Nature in Disguise

Tamaracks (photo courtesy of Ontario Parks)

Fall in Muskoka is synonymous with the colourful show put on by the sugar maples, birch, aspen and red oaks. But amongst those deciduous beauties is a pretender whose colours are peaking now: the Tamarack.

Also known as the Larch, the Tamarack is a deciduous conifer – a tree with needles that are shed in the fall. The Tamarack is a brilliant yellow this time of year, in stark contrast to the surrounding evergreens and barren deciduous trees that have already lost their leaves. Their unexpected colour prompts some to ask why they’re dying—they’re not. Their soft, bluish-green needles will return in the spring.

Ruffed Grouse at Limberlost Forest Reserve

The Tamarack’s autumn “disguise” as a deciduous tree is right out in the open, but other animals in Muskoka blend right in to their surroundings this time of year. A stellar example is the Ruffed Grouse, which can be difficult to spot any time of year as it makes its way through the undergrowth. Often, the only time you see one is when you almost step on it—it flies off in a ruckus, leaving you startled and it safely hidden before you realize what’s happened.

And then, of course, are the animals who

Snowshoe Hare (photo courtesy of the
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

adapt with the seasons like the Snowshoe Hare. A rusty brown in the summer, it turns white in the winter so that it mostly blends in with the snow. (The better to hide from its abundant predators: lynx, bobcats, fishers, owls, coyotes and wolves.)

Finally, there’s the creature most adept at disguising itself: the human child at Halloween. In search of its main prey—candy—they go to great lengths to alter their appearance to capture their treats. In Muskoka, a great place to see them in their natural habitat is at Muskoka Heritage Place Great Pumpkin Trail on October 31:

This 25th Annual Community Event is a great alternative to having your children go door to door through busy streets in traffic, in the dark. Held in the Pioneer Village within the gates of Muskoka Heritage Place, this traffic free and youngster driven Hallowe'en event proves as much of a social event for the parents as it is for the kids. From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with last admission 7:30 p.m. Cost: $3.00 per head (head must be attached to a body) or $10.00 per family.

With the leaves mostly gone and the first sprinklings of snow arriving this week, our thoughts have turned to winter activities. Don’t forget all that winter in Muskoka has to offer: alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, snowmobiles, snow forts, snowmen and more! (Or cozy up next to a warm fire with a good book...you don’t have to go outside!)

We hope you’ll visit our winter wonderland this year,

The Howell Family