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Troll for More and Bigger Panfish
Fall Gold: Walleye Success on Lake of the Woods
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A Strong Functional Fit
As Halloween nears, it’s time to take a look at some of the creepier critters that dwell in the Midwest.
Brown Creeper
The brown creeper bird builds a hammock-like nest behind a loose piece of bark on a dead tree, using bits of spider web, spider egg cases and pieces of moth cocoons to glue together the nesting materials: slender twigs, grasses, leaves and shredded bark. Bird watchers didn’t even know about this distinctive nesting tactic until 1879—which is pretty recent considering how long humans have been watching birds.
Timber Rattlesnakes
Potentially one of North America’s most dangerous snakes, due to its long fangs, impressive size, and high venom yield, the timber rattlesnake has a relatively mild disposition and long brumation period. It feeds mainly on small mammals, so in areas where it is endangered, conservationists are considering reintroduction programs in order to keep the rodent populations in check.
Black Widow Spider
In the United States each year, about 2,500 people report being bitten by a black widow, but most do not need medical treatment. These spiders mostly want to be left alone, so when they bite, they do not always inject venom. However, when they do, the venom is more toxic than that of a rattlesnake and causes great pain.
Transitional Bassin’
