This is an active time of year for wildlife. Smaller mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks and mice will be hard at work collecting a supply of nuts and berries to last them through the long winter.

Along the shorelines, migratory waterfowl begin appearing as early as mid-September. Many species can be observed while hiking around Hematite or Honker Lakes: Giant Canada geese, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, wigeon and loon are just a few of the species that inhabit LBL's waterways during the late fall and winter months. Hatching box turtles and woodcocks can also be seen here in mid-September.

White-tailed deer, seen throughout LBL, begin shedding their antler velvet in September, in preparation for the rut that begins in late October. The fallow deer breeding season occurs in October, and often their characteristic mating grunt, or "bellowing," can be heard at night.

Waterfowl and bird migration really begins to pick up in November. Migratory bald eagles from Canada, Wisconsin and Illinois begin arriving to spend the winter. Birders and anyone with an interest in wildlife will want to be sure to check out our Travelers' Digest to see a list of winter wildlife viewing programs.

THE GARDENS

By the end of October most of our flowers are finished their blooming cycles. The frost date in this region is October 15, but some experts are calling for an early frost this year.

Throughout late summer and early fall, seeds of many plants have been collected for next year's gardens: goldenrods, cardinal flower, wild bergamot, milkweed, and asters, to name just a few.

Other plants benefit from pruning back and careful mulching to provide protection for winter's cold. In LBL, we've found that the best mulch for the environment is free and readily available. As the leaves fall into the gardens, we simply leave them there. Fallen leaves not only protect our native plants, but animals benefit from them as well. Salamanders and butterfly and moth larva will use these leaves in which to hibernate. Then, after the last frost in late spring we will start to remove the leaves and dead plant material. We are careful not to remove them too soon to avoid harming any animals.

Late fall is a good time to take a look at your bird feeders and clean out the old chaff, mud and dirt and scrub away any mildew that may have developed during recent rains. A dirty bird feeder is a breeding ground for bacteria and mold spores, which could spread disease to birds. Be sure to use mild soap and very hot water, and to thoroughly rinse away any soap residue. Do not use toxic cleansers, which could poison birds.

Although our hummingbird gardens are dormant in late fall and winter, that doesn't necessarily mean it is time to take down the hummingbird feeders. In fact, it has recently been discovered that many species of northern and western hummingbirds will migrate south into our region for the winter. To attract hummingbirds in winter, hang your feeder in a protected spot near your house where it tends to be warmer, or place a 150-watt light bulb over it to prevent freezing.