King McInnes and Glory celebrate

Dear Viking Outpost Family,

 Our time up at McInnes was fantastic!  Sunshine, Rain, Hail, Snow: we had all four seasons in one week.  None of it kept the King and ueen of McInnes off the water.  (Well, maybe one afternoon when there were huge winds blowing, but, then, we had fun in the cabin)  Hiking, Fishing, Shore Lunch, Sitting on the Deck eating just caught walleye and drinking a cold one, watching the eagles and gulls having a fracas over fresh scraps on Gull Island.  For one week, we were in paradise.  The best 25th anniversary we could have ever hoped for.

Lee and I both want you to know how special a home we think you have up there in Red Lake and how special a place you have in our hearts as well.
Thank you for everything.
Lee and Glory

Wolverine Pictures!!

Henry Purucker and his group found their moose near the shores of McInnes Lake.  

The crows have found it within minutes

They sent the meat to town and then took the carcass out in the bush and set up a game camera.  The crows found it first and they set to work.  

Could be a Wolverine

Then during the night an interesting animal dropped by.  You can see his ghostly image in the photos. The next day he returns and it looks for all the world like a wolverine.

A wolverine looks like a fisher on steroids, with wide shoulders, a sturdy build and a ferocious reputation.  He has been known to kill deer, beaver and even moose! 

This fellow is rare.  I studied trapping records for 1970 to 1982 and could only find a very few wolverine in the Sachigo Hills (123 miles to the northeast) and on Cape Henrietta Maria (501 miles to the northeast).  I believe they are easy to trap out as they follow a trapline just like a trapper does.  A male has a huge home range of about 240 square miles.  The females are about 5 or 6 before they reproduce and only have 2 or 3 kits.  I guess when an animal has no predator they don't need many young, but trapping can change that.

Now that trapping has dropped off, wolverine seem to be making a comeback.  Sightings will always be rare and exciting.

Great Photos Guys