Warren Dunes State Park

Saturday, December 21

Sawyer, Michigan

Two inches of freshly fallen snow and partly sunny skies made for a perfect afternoon hike for the 16 people (including two newcomers) who showed up at Warren Dunes. The group had virtually the whole area around Floral Road to itself–we only encountered one other hiker. Leader Pat Fisher pointed out several girdled oak trees along the way, victims of Oak wilt, a fungal infection that is spread by beetles and is almost always fatal. Killing trees with the disease keeps it from spreading to other oaks in the forest. One hiker pointed out holes in trees made by pileated woodpeckers. Others inspected birdhouses nailed to several trees and proclaimed them homes for wood ducks. (Photo by member Mark Piper.)