But today, it is stopping the traffic in Duluth, interfering with the phone lines, and with the emails. All is well at Tuscarora. Thanks for being patient with our lines of communication—we’ll get back to you as soon as we can! 
Meanwhile, the labor continues…
Category: Life at Tuscarora Lodge
Turtles and Feathers and a Murder Mystery
The turtles are laying. This mother was obviously earning her living. Having gone into labor a couple of times myself, I felt a little bond with her as I witnessed. Only she was alone, and she had to dig for herself. 
Can you imagine? She must have been mighty uncomfortable, enough to drive her up onto the beach where Caleb and I stopped to watch for awhile. We really really wanted to see her actually lay an egg, but we were too close. Then she had to stop and make a break for it, and halt the labor process. Ooof. I felt a little sorry about that..
The next night, Denali discovered another mother up on the driveway. This one didn’t even make it to the squat position, because when Denali is investigating, she is patient and curious for long periods of time. 
She stood absolutely still, and eventually discovered that the turtle only came out if she waited silently behind the turtle tail. Eventually the turtle’s head would emerge, and Denali would POUNCE. But turtle neck reflexes are much speedier than a black lab pounce. So Denali would waaaaaiiit and waaaaaiiiiiit…and then pounce again.
She stood absolutely still, and eventually discovered that the turtle only came out if she waited silently behind the turtle tail. Eventually the turtle’s head would emerge, and Denali would POUNCE. But turtle neck reflexes are much speedier than a black lab pounce. So Denali would waaaaaiiit and waaaaaiiiiiit…and then pounce again. The other morning, we couldn’t resist an early paddle, and we quietly slipped out to Round Lake near the Yogi rock when a witchy raven broke the silence with rude squawking directed right at us. She was loud and harsh, and she might well have been swearing she was so testy about it all. I wanted to recite the BWCAW rules video and tell her “keep the noise to a minimum, you might even see more wildlife that way.” I was looking up at her wondering what she was so angry about when we floated into a smelly smattering of feathers. 
Denali had to investigate that one too. What happened? Did the ravens get a gull or an eagle? I haven’t seen any gulls lately, and we couldn’t find any dead body. Did the raven put the spell on another bird
? I have no idea what kind of bird even. Some were big, some were little and fluffy in clumps. She was squawking so fiercely, we never figured out what happened, but I agree with Denali when she chases the teasing ravens down the road. I don’t call her back, I say “Get the evil ravens girl.”
Denali had to investigate that one too. What happened? Did the ravens get a gull or an eagle? I haven’t seen any gulls lately, and we couldn’t find any dead body. Did the raven put the spell on another bird
? I have no idea what kind of bird even. Some were big, some were little and fluffy in clumps. She was squawking so fiercely, we never figured out what happened, but I agree with Denali when she chases the teasing ravens down the road. I don’t call her back, I say “Get the evil ravens girl.”The fishy feathers went on and on for a while, and we never got to the bottom of that mystery.
Sweeping
Stephan used to call it brooming. Why not? You swing on the swing, you brush with the brush, can’t you broom with the broom? At any rate, on days like this, sweeping might be the best job in the world. You can’t hear it from this photo, but the loons were singing loudly, and Karl was singing softly. 
It’s a great day to be alive in the North Woods!!
Towering Pines
by Rachel
We love our white pines here at Tuscarora. 
The old towering ones as well as the tiny Dr. Seuss style
new ones. 
Walking up the drive way to the cabins feels like walking into a towering cathedral. They
cause a bit of a hazard when you become more preoccupied with watching and listening to the wind in
the canopies then paying attention to where you are going. 
We encourage new white pines that spring
up under the old by clearing out the fast growing shrubs that could over power the baby trees.
Countless buckets of water have been hauled by the staff to nurture seedlings planted in clearings.
Sometimes, despite our love and attention, a pine comes crashing down in a wind storm. Although sad
to see it go, we know that that is part of the life of a forest.
The latest tree to go down was a good sized
one, so staffer Andrew crafted it into four new benches around camp, which will serve as great places
for our guests to take a break this summer. 
Come by sometime this summer and have a seat on one of
them and listen to the sound of the wind in our white pines.
Cook County Law Enforcement Briefs
A few of our current favorites from the recent Cook County News-Herald….part of what makes Cook County unique…
MONDAY APRIL 23
2:22pm The Forest Service reported a skunk out on the front grass area with a cup over its head and heading toward the highway. State Patrol was notified.
TUESDAY APRIL 24
10:20 Caller said he found a 16 foot aluminum canoe last fall, asked around, but no one knew about it.
THURSDAY APRIL 26:
8:38am Caller said at about 6:40 this morning she saw a wolf running in the ditch carrying in its mouth what looked like a small poodle-ish type dog with a red collar.
SUNDAY MAY 6
A deputy was requested to contact the caller’s son who was camping in the area. They needed to tell him that his basement was flooding and the dad was not sure what to do.
THURSDAY MAY 10
8:56am A husky-looking dog was seen in a chicken coop on Creechville road, and took a dead chicken out. The other five chickens are gone as of sometime last night, only feathers left, but the caller did not see what took them.
SUNDAY MAY 13
2:46am Caller said he may have left a bass leaning up against a car in the parking lot near DQ when he left for Ely.
