#mild winter

A banner year for varmints

I can't offer you any relevant scientific data, but my hunch, based on personal observations and the anecdotal reports of people I know, is that varmints are having a good year.

I'm talking chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, skunks ... and that most persistent of invaders, the groundhog (I've already trapped four of them so far this year).

My theory is that the mildness of the most recent winter and early spring allowed more of them to survive ... and breed.

We’ve had a very mild winter here on the Avalon Peninsula. It feels like spring has sprung already even though it’s only mid February. Every time any significant amount of precipitation has occurred it’s been rain and nothing but rain. We’d probably have a solid 5 feet of snow on the ground if otherwise.

Either way it means that hiking season hasn’t really taken a break so I’ve been trying to get out and enjoy the nice days while I can. Deadman’s Bay Path is definitely one of my favourites, it’s super close to downtown but still feels like you’re out in the wilderness which is wild. I didn’t make it down to the beach at the half way point since the way down was too icy and I haven’t been able to get my hands on a pair of crampons yet. What I did hike was fantastic and it really felt like early spring, I think tanning season might start by next month at this rate.

I’m happy to have done a bit of this trail again. Hopefully I’ll get out to get more photos and some more exercise with the nice weather.