“Ahh, Autumn”

 

By Scott Lee

 

What a wonderful time to live in this area!  The Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Perrot State Park, the Mississippi River and the bluffs that accompany it – it just doesn’t get any better than this and then to have autumn arrive to accentuate it all.  Wow, life can’t get any better than this!

 

Where do I start?  I suppose the obvious is the incredible beauty that autumn brings with the change of colors.  A drive through this part of the country is beautiful any time of the year, but when those leaves change?  Wow, it is truly spectacular!     

 

Then there’s the weather.  The winters get pretty darned cold here, as you will experience in a few months, and the summers can get awfully hot, as you just found out.  Our autumns, however, find that perfect compromise …. and it happens without the slushy mess of spring.

 

The wildlife also add to the wonderfulness of this season.  We are blessed with being such a “hot spot” for the fall migration of our feathered friends.  A drive through the refuge or along the river is an incredible pleasure with all the waterfowl hanging out and replenishing their energy for the rest of their trip south,  A hike in the wooded areas is always a great experience with the great variety of song birds doing the same thing in their habitat-of-choice.

 

The rest of the animal world found here also do their part to entertain.  They seem to be more active and visible during this season, as their focus is more on feeding than fearing.  The hibernators need to fatten up before heading to their burrows or dens or ponds to sleep away the cold and snow of our winters.  Those tough enough to stick around and stay awake all winter also need to put on some extra pounds before the food supply dwindles and is harder to come by.

 

It truly is a great time to get out and about, so don’t wait until winter arrives and look back in sorrow for missing that opportunity!