Wild Flora And Fauna
In
Chandler Township
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Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
1901 Michigan Game and Fish Laws
Chandler's Own Hon. Wm. Pearson
Wants Ferret Law Repealed in 1911
Wants Ferret Law Repealed in 1911
1911 ~ Change in State Game Laws
1913 Bird Hunting Law
1917 Possible Closing of
Charlevoix County
To Deer Hunters
Charlevoix County
To Deer Hunters
Lands Open to Public Hunting in Charlevoix County MI
The map shows approximate boundaries for Chandler Township and
advises the map should not be used for legal boundary determinations.
Bald Eagles
This bald eagle is difficult to see perched high up in the tree,
across the road from Glenn and Nancy Hindbaugh's home on Chandler Hill Road.
It was good to see that the bald eagles are still surviving in Chandler Township.
across the road from Glenn and Nancy Hindbaugh's home on Chandler Hill Road.
It was good to see that the bald eagles are still surviving in Chandler Township.
Bears
Photo Below: This was a bear that Wiley Latshaw trapped,
probably near Wiley's home located on old Camp 23 property on Howard Road.
Wiley's Franklin car was in the background.
probably near Wiley's home located on old Camp 23 property on Howard Road.
Wiley's Franklin car was in the background.
Bear are evidently still plentiful in Chandler Township because even in 2012 bear hunters, letting their dogs run, can often be noted near the swamps in Chandler Township. Roscoe Howard Jr. and Roscoe Howard Sr. in the photo above left with their hunting success of a deer and a bear, and the photo above right with Roscoe Sr. and his son Keith with two good sized bears, would have made good use of the meat with the large family that Roscoe and Bertha Fraley Howard had to feed.
Bobcats
On 14 February 2015, Karin Grangood (a Petoskey Middle School secretary, where Sheldon Buckmaster was a science teacher, at the time of this happening) wrote: "About 17 years ago (Sheldon may remember this), but my husband and I were driving right by the CCC Camp. We saw a HUGE cougar walking over a hill near the cabin at the Springvale Corners. It was so exciting and scary at the same time. We were in a truck, just checking out the back roads. That Monday, I saw Sheldon in the teacher workroom. I asked him if he had heard of cougars or mountain lions up here. This was before they were talked about really. He said 'Yes.' I don't remember exactly what he said, but he gave me the impression he wasn't surprised that I had asked.
There was no mistaking what it was. It was probably as tall as my hip... Long, thick tail that curled slightly up... Long body. He came over the crest of the hill. Looked up at us. Turned slowly around and walked back over the hill.
I will NEVER forget the sight. Ever."
There was no mistaking what it was. It was probably as tall as my hip... Long, thick tail that curled slightly up... Long body. He came over the crest of the hill. Looked up at us. Turned slowly around and walked back over the hill.
I will NEVER forget the sight. Ever."
Deer
The 1917 article below does not make if clear what is actually happening about closing Charlevoix County to deer hunters that year.
The 1940 postcard shown in the photo below, was a good example of the successful hunting of deer in Northern Michigan...
like in Chandler Township.
like in Chandler Township.
Deer are plentiful in Chandler Township Charlevoix County, and they are lovely to watch, especially the fawns; still the deer can be a nuisance to farmers' crops. The hunting of deer thus serves many purposes; saving the crops, hunting entertainment, and venison on many tables to feed many Chandler Township families. Venison has also been the featured meat at the fund raising "Venison Suppers" put on by the community members, over the years, for people from near and far.
AND
Elk
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) webpage provides a short history of "Michigan Elk: Past and Present"
and other related Elk Information..
and other related Elk Information..
The article on the left tells about the first peeks at the imported elk from Jackson Hole WY. About the time that this Ludington Daily News article [Left below] was being written, it was common to see an elk herd grazing in a field near the Red Wing gas station at the end of Thumb Lake Road, near Vanderbilt MI. Then one night while sleeping in our farmhouse on top of Chandler Hill, I was awakened by a very loud constant clacking. I looked out the bedroom window toward the apple orchard. With the light of the bright moon shining upon them, two elk were under the apple tree (same tree as in the two photos below), on their hind legs, fighting, and fiercely knocking their racks of horns together. That was the only time I ever saw elk so close to our home, but I have that sound and vision in my mind still... a majestic moment in Nature... which took place under the same tree that Rodger and I played in as children like in the photo directly below.
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Article/Photos Below: "Urge NO Elk Hunting in 1968"
Gaylord's City Elk Park
116 Grandview Boulevard, Gaylord, Michigan 49735
The 8 August 2017 Petoskey News Review featured an article written by Arielle Breen titled: "More than 100 plan to hunt elk here. Elk population estimated between 258 and 658 DNR's goal." The article stated: "This year, Charlevoix County has three elk hunters for the year and all three are scheduled for the fall hunt. Last year, Charlevoix had two hunters."
Flies
Of course, flies are a facetious topic of wild fauna, but my brother Rodger Howard remembers how our Granddad Albert Howard actually hunted flies, and thought of them as "fair game". Albert could sit on his farmhouse porch on Magee Road, and shoot with his pistol, and kill, a fly on a fencepost out by the road, several feet away. He was proud of the fact that he was a good shot... so, even as Albert grew older, and his eyesight was not quite as sharp, he was not about to give up hunting flies. So, he began shooting flies that landed on the much closer wood railing of his porch. This lasted until, one day with his ever diminishing eyesight, Albert aimed too close to the edge of the wood railing which sat atop a rock and cement divider. That particular pistol bullet glanced off either the cement or a rock, ricocheted into the big picture window of his living room, and shattered the window completely. It was then that Albert's son Karl "Cub" Howard took away his dad's pistol, and put an end to fly hunting on Chandler hill with any more than a fly swatter.
Photo Right L>R: Marion Bush Howard and her husband Karl "Cub" Howard, Cub's father Albert Howard, and Albert's brothers Martin Howard and Steve Howard. This was the house of Albert Howard where he sat on the porch and hunted flies. The rock and cement divider with the wood railing atop was at the right of the porch, with two buckets resting upon the wood railing.
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Foxes
Marion Mackie Wood, Chandler Township resident wrote in her 2 December 1945 diary: "Roscoe and Bertha Howard came about 9:30AM & stayed until 12 o'clock. Had 11 fox hides to get the bounty papers, quite a haul---That will save a lot of chickens next year. Junior [Roscoe Howard Jr.] left for the Army at Fort Sheridan this morning. He has enlisted for a year."
Marion Mackie Wood, Chandler Township resident wrote in her 5 November 1950 diary: "Ines & Ralph Harmon came with a fox for Howard to fix up the bounty tonite. She's so pretty & he is a nice kid. They should have gone to Ernest's [Walton] of course- They stayed until 10- the fox was a nice little one with a gorgeous brush." In 1950, Howard Wood was the Chandler Township Supervisor, and Ernest Walton was the Chandler Township Clerk. So, Marion must have been referring to getting the bounty for a fox hide, the township clerk must have been responsible, so Ralph and Inis should have gone to Ernest's to collect the bounty.
Grasshoppers
Guinea Hens
While visiting the Gallop Cemetery, in 1983, were these guinea hens (wild or domesticated)
looking for a home, or "final nesting place", or just roaming from a nearby farm?
looking for a home, or "final nesting place", or just roaming from a nearby farm?
Pet Wild Partridge
Four Photos Above: In 1956 when my dad Cub Howard went out into one of his back farm fields and drove his tractor, this particular partridge would show up. The partridge would land right on the tractor in front of my dad, and then let my dad hold it. My brother Rodger and I were even able to hold the partridge, and Rodger named the partridge "Bill". After the partridge was placed back on to the ground, it would go back into the woods, and wait for my dad to come and visit another day. We wondered if the partridge was maybe attracted to the putt-putt sound of the tractor's engine... making the sound of a partridge in quick flight. Raymond Lick, Cub's nephew, also had a chance to hold the same partridge. If Bill did not just come out of the woods on its own, but Dad or Rodger wanted to see Bill, they could call the partridge just like calling for a dog, and Bill would come out.
My brother Rodger remembers well the demise of Bill the pet wild partridge. As Rodger tells the story, Ed Morse of Battle Creek who had a log cabin on Magee Road [later owned by Judy Gigante] was a good friend to Albert Howard, and Albert's son Karl "Cub" Howard [Rodger's, and my, dad]. Ed Morse and his sons came up early in the deer hunting season so they could bow hunt. The one son had driven to Cub's farm to ask if it would be okay if he and his brother hunted on Cub's land... and, it was, but Dad advised to be aware if they were hunting back on the field where the bean patch was located that Bill, the partridge, was apt to walk right up to them, so just ignore Bill, and do not bother Bill. As they continued to talk, they all saw the other brother, who had walked through the woods from the Morse cabin, just to scope out the area on Cub's property for their hunting adventure. As he approached, they could all see that he had his hunting bow in one hand and a partridge hanging from his other hand. This brother, Dave Morse, said, "You won't believe what just happened. I was walking along, and this partridge just walked right out of the woods into my path, so I took aim with my bow and arrow, and shot. I missed the darn thing... but, it just kept walking toward me, so I hit it with my bow, and killed it." Sadly, that was the demise of Bill the partridge. ~Karla Howard Buckmaster
My brother Rodger remembers well the demise of Bill the pet wild partridge. As Rodger tells the story, Ed Morse of Battle Creek who had a log cabin on Magee Road [later owned by Judy Gigante] was a good friend to Albert Howard, and Albert's son Karl "Cub" Howard [Rodger's, and my, dad]. Ed Morse and his sons came up early in the deer hunting season so they could bow hunt. The one son had driven to Cub's farm to ask if it would be okay if he and his brother hunted on Cub's land... and, it was, but Dad advised to be aware if they were hunting back on the field where the bean patch was located that Bill, the partridge, was apt to walk right up to them, so just ignore Bill, and do not bother Bill. As they continued to talk, they all saw the other brother, who had walked through the woods from the Morse cabin, just to scope out the area on Cub's property for their hunting adventure. As he approached, they could all see that he had his hunting bow in one hand and a partridge hanging from his other hand. This brother, Dave Morse, said, "You won't believe what just happened. I was walking along, and this partridge just walked right out of the woods into my path, so I took aim with my bow and arrow, and shot. I missed the darn thing... but, it just kept walking toward me, so I hit it with my bow, and killed it." Sadly, that was the demise of Bill the partridge. ~Karla Howard Buckmaster
Rabbits
John Bush, John's brother Dewey Bush, and Merle Fraley Sr. had a good day of rabbit hunting.
John & Dewey were listed on the 1910 Chandler Township Census Records under their stepfather's last name of Louder,
and Merle was listed on both of the 1920 and 1930 Chandler Township Censuses under the name of Robert M. Fraley.
John & Dewey were listed on the 1910 Chandler Township Census Records under their stepfather's last name of Louder,
and Merle was listed on both of the 1920 and 1930 Chandler Township Censuses under the name of Robert M. Fraley.
Sandhill Cranes
The sandhill cranes were enjoying their surroundings near a small creek on Howard Road near Bachandler Camp Road in the two photos below. Sandhill cranes have been seen over most areas of all of Chandler Township. Sandhill cranes have a distinctive sound and dance which may be heard and seen on YouTube.
Tree Face
Just down the road from Cobbler's Knob
My dad Cub Howard drove along on the long, curvy road going up Chandler Hill,
to finally reach the ninety degree corner just at the very top of Chandler Hill,
when he always announced, "Well, we've reached Cobbler's Knob." ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
to finally reach the ninety degree corner just at the very top of Chandler Hill,
when he always announced, "Well, we've reached Cobbler's Knob." ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
Winter Tree Fall
The dusting of snow in the forest on the side hills of Chandler Hill reveals the many trees that have fallen. Many of the downed trees are probably ASH trees because that is what has happened to ash trees the last few years after the ash bores have invaded the forests.
Witness Tree
Through history, trees have served to tell stories in personal lives, as well as having served as "witness trees" for early land surveyors who kept notes of the lines they surveyed, by noting the species of particular trees near the boundary lines. Chandler Township Charlevoix County Michigan holds a tree that I claim as my Witness Tree. It is the tree that grows to the left of the porch of the Chandler Township Hall... the same tree that was growing in the same space when I attended the one-room school in that same building. I played around the far reaching roots of that tree, and under the branches of that maple tree... it is a marker in my life, just like a Witness Tree is a marker for a surveyor. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
The Pigeon River Country State Forest was marked with an original "Witness Tree". Michael Jones explained in a May 2013 article in the Gaylord Herald Times that a big red pine tree is marked with signage as a "Witness Tree". The sign states: "This red pine marked on June 17, 1850 during the original land survey of Michigan. The tree diameter was eight inches at that time. The surveyor was William Burt. Burt Lake, near Indian River was named after his father W.A. Burt. Mark identifies quarter section corner between section 15 & 16 township 32 north range ? west". Michael Jones further explained that "Until 1975, the witness tree sat alongside a county road. That year, some of the tree's roots had been cut by a county plow. Concern for the safety of the tree led to a public hearing, and the road was abandoned as a way to save the tree from further harm."
The Pigeon River Country State Forest was marked with an original "Witness Tree". Michael Jones explained in a May 2013 article in the Gaylord Herald Times that a big red pine tree is marked with signage as a "Witness Tree". The sign states: "This red pine marked on June 17, 1850 during the original land survey of Michigan. The tree diameter was eight inches at that time. The surveyor was William Burt. Burt Lake, near Indian River was named after his father W.A. Burt. Mark identifies quarter section corner between section 15 & 16 township 32 north range ? west". Michael Jones further explained that "Until 1975, the witness tree sat alongside a county road. That year, some of the tree's roots had been cut by a county plow. Concern for the safety of the tree led to a public hearing, and the road was abandoned as a way to save the tree from further harm."
Morel Mushrooms
Boyne City MI is nearby to Chandler Township. Boyne City initiated the Morel Mushroom Festival, and usually transports the mushroom pickers out to Chandler Township for their great searches. The YouTube Video of Morel Mushroom Festival Boyne City shows the school buses having transported the pickers out to the Springvale Corners area, and dropping the pickers off to do their mushroom searching. UPDATE: Sadly, this mural no longer exists.
Jerry Douglas Studio Gallery
The Petoskey News Review article of 24 May 2017 titled "Morel mural makeover" told of painting over the above 2008 morel mural above. The building has been sold, and the new owner Lynda Callaway has plans for a new mural. The original painter Jerry Douglas is sad to see his very first mural go, but he is content to know that different original art will fill the canvas space on the wall.
Great White Trilliums
(Trillium Grandiflorum)
In the past children enjoyed taking a bouquet of trillium flowers to their teachers each Spring. In some states, like Michigan, it may be illegal to pick some trillium flowers, listed as threatened or endangered, from public lands. The public hillsides of Chandler Hill, so often are teeming with beckoning morel mushrooms, but in Early May, the hillsides are alive with trillium flowers. While the trilliums may not be picked, their beauty can be viewed and appreciated as in the photos below taken in May 2012.
Hardwood Nursery and Swamp Area
on Slashing Road and Chandler Hill Road and Howard Road
on Slashing Road and Chandler Hill Road and Howard Road
Photo Below taken by Charles Dawley 30 July 2014: The gridded trees were planted years ago in the location of the Hardwood Nursery on Slashing Road; looking toward Thunder Mountain in the background. On the right in the photo is part of the swamp area on Chandler Hill Road, showing with some of the dead trees. Although this is not viewable from the road, the beaver have evidently dammed up the water to such an extent that it killed the trees, so the gray looking trees, without green, are all dead.
Photo Credit: Odalaigh
Photo Below taken by Charles Dawley 30 July 2014: This photo is looking the exact opposite direction from the photo above. The gray splotch of swamp trees in the center top, behind Art and Connie Keyes' home, is the swamp also destroyed by the beavers' dams, off Howard Road. The destroyed swamp off Chandler Hill Road seen in the above photo also can be seen in the left side of the photo below.
Photo Credit: Odalaigh