Whitetail Deer 001

Winter is still hanging around on the North Shore. The daytime temperatures are in the low forties but there is still plenty of snow on the ground. This is the time of year the south slopes along Highway 61 are starting to melt and the whitetail deer converge to eat what they couldn’t find under the snow all winter. You have to be very careful not to hit the deer when you are driving.

Bald Eagle 001

As we drove back from Grand Marais, we started to count the deer along the highway. From Cascade River State Park to Gooseberry (about 65 miles) we counted 351 deer feeding along side the road. We saw three that had been hit by vehicles. Between the wolves, ravens, and eagles, the dead ones don’t last long. There is always some creature looking for fresh venison.

Bald Eagle 002

Within the bird hierarchy the eagle seems to dominate the lunch line. All the crows and ravens move back and let the eagle eat first. They seem very aware of the eagle’s sharp talons.