Hello Clam Lake!
I want to wish everyone, whether of Irish descent or just Irish for the day, a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Or as they would say in Gaelic, “La Fheile Padraig sona duit!”
Brrrr!….was the order of the day for the first few weeks in February as we saw our thermometers routinely plunging into the sub-zero range. Thankfully, for the winter sports enthusiasts, we did see a few more inches of snow begin to accumulate which resulted in the hum of snowmobiles in the village. A welcome sound for our area businesses!
But….by the end of February it seemed like spring was in the air as the thermometers bumped up to almost 50 degrees thus ending the short lived snowmobile season. What a difference a week can make in northern Wisconsin! At least it held off for the Birkenbeiner.
SPEAKING OF…..The 51st Birkenbeiner is now one for the history books. Thankfully, they had beautiful weather and plenty of snow so the race went off without a hitch. I could almost hear Christopher Walken hollering his famous SNL refrain, “I need more cowbell!” Congrats to all that participated! (As a side note: It was a Nordic tradition to ring cowbells to cheer skiers on. This tradition continues at the American Birkenbeiner with people lining the finish line ringing cowbells.)
Here are the Clam Lake happenings for the month of March:
IT’S A RAP – On Saturday, March 1st the Clam Lake Forest Riders held their last meat raffle of the season at Ransoms. With the arrival of snow this club was kept busy keeping the area trails groomed and ready for all to enjoy. We thank them for all they do during the snow season – if we have one! – to keep the trails in tip top shape. They are a very hard working group and a credit to our community! Good job!
BOOK CLUB – the Clam Lake Book Club will meet on Tuesday March 11th at 2:30 at Lisa’s cabin. The book being discussed will be “The Plot” by Jean Hanff Korelitz which is a psychological thriller keeping one guessing until the very end. On tap for April is the “The Women” by Kristin Hannah. This is a work of historical fiction detailing the life of an Army nurse who joined the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. Both are wonderful reads! If interested in attending you can contact Lisa for directions at Lisaspeifer@gmail.com
CLAM LAKE COMMUNITY CLUB – The Clam Lake Community Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 13th beginning at 5:00 pm. After the meeting there will be a Pot Luck followed by some Clam Lake Style Bingo led by Master Bingo Caller Ace Griffaw. Time to come out and join with neighbors and friends to learn what is going on in the village.
ON THAT NOTE – SHOUT OUT!– If you’ve ever received a get well or sympathy card from the Clam Lake Community Club you have Alice Filter to thank. As Secretary of the Club, I and my fellow officers, wish to extend a huge thank you to Alice for handling the Community Club’s Outreach program. We are thankful for her service to our community!!!
ELK NEWS – After Christmas, until the middle of March, begins the DNR’s elk testing. Temporary pens are set up in various spots where food is placed to lure the elk in for their annual “check-ups”. Once in the pen, the door is shut so the DNR personnel can begin the testing. What is done? First of all, their overall health is evaluated. Collars will be replaced if needed and the pregnant cows (determined by ultrasound) will have their VIT (Vaginal Implant Transmitters) put in. These transmitters remain in place until the cow gives birth at which time they will be pushed out allowing the resarchers to know that a birth has taken place. This new innovation allows birth rates and calf locations to be made more effectively. As of now, according to elk biologist Josh Spiegel, cows aged 3 and older that have been evaluated are showing a 100% pregnancy rate. This is due primarily to our past two mild winters making for healthier animals. The trapping period also allows for relocation to take place, if necessary. This is done primarily in order to reduce numbers in agricultural areas before problems occur. Due to agri problems, the Black River Falls herd, which numbers around 200-220 animals has decided to allot 5 cow tags for the 2025 season. The good news is that our elk are healthy and doing well!
Until next month…..
Pictured is a cow ultrasound image taken last year and the equipment used. Photos courtesy of Elk Biologist Josh Spiegel.
