Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-05
LONG WINTER
| IS PREDICTED
Amateur Weather ProEnostica.
tors Getting Busy.

All OF the amateur weather pro-
phets are united in the opinion that
present indications point that we are
TO have an unusually cold winter, and
when it comes to reading the weather
signs some of the old time woodsmen
and trappers are often more accurate
in their predictions than the profess
sIonal weather man.
There is liable to be plenty of snow
the woodsmen say, although probably
not near so much as last year, when
the last of the white covering did not
entirely disappear in the woods till
midsummer. Cold winds from the
northwest will prevail and the at
mosphere will be clear and sharp, ac-
cording to the signs of the trappers.
Out in the woods the hunters bring
back reports that the partridges now
are lying east and are so Scary that
one cannot approach within several
hundred feet of them. They fly up
quickly and make for the tall timber
and cannot be driven out into the
open. Indians would say this meant
a cold winter If the birds spend
most of the time on the ground, it
would mean mild weather, but the
outlook at present is not in favor of
the warm spell.
The muskrats, too are making un-
usual preparations for a long, hard
siege of cold weather. and are build
ing many houses along the rivers and
creeks. 1t is said they are bringing
an unusual supply of grasses and
UWigs to make their homes strong and
secure, and their beds warm and COM
Portable. These little animals often
times neglect to do this, but it is usu-
ally when mild winter follows How
the muskrats know what is to come
is not known, but the hunters depend
upon them.
Another sign is one regarding the
depth of the water in the creeks and
rivers. If the water is unusually low
in the creeks during the fall it means
a hard winter with plenty of snow,
and if the trees are falling rapidly be-
fore the autumn winds it is sign
that the ''trees are taking time by
the forelock," " and prefer to die be-
fore the more severe storms of the
cold winter.
Cruisers and woodsmen pur good
deal of stock in the theory that which
ever way the wind is blowing at the
time the sun ''passes the line," that
will be the prevailing direction for
therest Of the year. Upon this theory
one well known Zimmerman said re-
Gently that he looked for a cold win
ter, as the wind was blowing from
the northwest, when the sun crossed
the equator. Most of our cold
weather comes from the country to
the northwest, and therefore, if the
prevailing winds are from that di-
recUion we are due to have cold win
oCis odlo oOI IOOh 1OI llIUSll
snow, however, not nearly as much as
last season."
The geese are already flying south
ward from the Arctic regions in great |
1t is said that is pretty
early for the flights of the geese, and
this means the birds know cold
winter is coming and wish to get
warmer regions before it sets in. |
Ducks, too, are said to have made /
early flights to the southland.
Besides the muskrats numerous
other animals seem to have an insight
into the future and accordingly are
unusual preparations for a |
long and cold winter. Squirrels have
already laid up a big supply of nuts
and are preparing their nests in the
trees for long siege. Bears and
wolves are said to have heavier coats
of fur than is usual at this time of
the year and all the voolfolk seem
to expect some rigid winter months.