Visitors at Tamarac Refuge spot a porcupine up in a tree along the Pine Lake ski trail. - USFWS photo by Gloria Schattsneider

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge Ranger Kelly Blackledge helps a few young skiers identify wildlife tracks in the snow during a family cross-country ski event. - USFWS photo by Gloria Schattsneider

Connecting people and nature doesn’t stop at Tamarac NWR just because it’s cold outside and the ground is blanketed with snow. A weekend cross-county ski trek for families explores stories in the snow.  Refuge Ranger Kelly Blackledge leads visitors through the woods on a ski trail to explore winter ecology.  The group stopped to watch a porcupine in a tree and identify tracks left by squirrels, rabbits, and ermine. Eight miles of ski trails on the refuge are occasionally groomed by a volunteer, enticing visitors to explore the refuge beyond the warmth of a car.  In January and February when cabin fever sets in, more and more visitors take part in winter photography and wildlife watching on the refuge.