📝 Blog Post:

Nestled between scenic Lake Erie and rolling countryside, Madison, Ohio is not only a charming small town — it's also a haven for local wildlife. Whether you're exploring nature trails, visiting nearby parks, or simply enjoying your backyard, you’re likely to spot a variety of fascinating animals throughout the year.

🦌 White-Tailed Deer

We’re lucky to share this peaceful place with some very special visitors—our local white-tailed deer. If you’re here around dusk or early in the morning, keep an eye out near the front feeders or by the Lemondrop cottage. You just might spot them!

Meet Our Deer Friends:

• Miss Velvet – A graceful doe who returns each year.

• Willow – Her curious yearling, always close by.

• Meadow – Her newest little one, born this spring.

• Scardy Cat – Easily startled but a wonderful mama to her twin fawns, who love to explore.

Sometimes, they nap in the yard or nibble on the Hostas nearby. Please enjoy watching them from a distance—they’ve come to feel safe here.

We look forward to their visits every season and hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do.

🦅 Meet Our Bald Eagle Family

We’re lucky to share our skies with a majestic bald eagle family that often visits the trees around the cottage. If you’re walking in the yard or relaxing by the water, be sure to look up—you might spot one!

Here’s who to watch for:

• Mom – She’s unmistakable with her brilliant white head and powerful wingspan.

• Juvenile – Fully dark with no white yet, this younger eagle is still learning the ropes.

• Two-Year-Old – In between stages, with a speckled white and black head—growing into its adult feathers.

They love to perch in the trees, scanning the lake for their next meal. If you’re lucky, you’ll see one flying overhead with a fresh catch of perch or walleye in its talons—a breathtaking sight!

🦤Our Great Blue Heron Visitor

Keep an eye near the flagpole—you might spot one of our most elegant and quiet guests: a Great Blue Heron.

With long, lanky legs and soft blue-gray feathers streaked with bold accents, this bird is hard to miss. They can grow quite large, with wingspans reaching up to six feet wide!

Herons are expert fishers. You’ll often see them standing completely still, blending perfectly with the shoreline, watching and waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. While they mainly eat fish, they’ll also snack on small mammals, reptiles, and even invertebrates.

Our resident heron visits often and is a peaceful presence to watch—graceful, focused, and a true part of the rhythm of life around the cottage.

Enjoy the show if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse!

🦆 Our Visiting Ducks

Our little corner of the world is often graced by a variety of ducks—each with its own personality and charm. If you enjoy birdwatching, you’ll have plenty to see here!

• Mallard Family – A regular sight on our property. Mom and Dad, along with their two sons, often walk through the yard and stop by the front door bird feeders.

• Mergansers & Hooded Mergansers – These sleek swimmers love to visit in the spring and can sometimes be spotted in the summer too. They’re fun to watch because they can dive underwater, and you’ll never know where they’ll pop up next!

• Redhead Ducks – These ducks swim by often, gracefully gliding through the water.

• Cormorants – In the spring, we often see these large water birds, and sometimes a few stick around into the summer.

Feel free to keep an eye on the water and around the property—you never know when a new duck might show up for a visit. Enjoy the natural beauty of these feathered friends during your stay!

🦜 Birdwatching Around the Cottage

Our corner of nature is home to a variety of birds, each with their own unique beauty and behavior. If you love watching wildlife, keep your eyes peeled—you never know what you might spot around the lake!

• Belted Kingfishers – These small, striking birds have a distinctive white stripe around their neck and are often seen perched along the river’s edge where it meets Lake Erie. They watch intently for small fish and, when they spot one, they’ll dive down to grab a quick meal, often eating right on the break wall.

• Seagulls – Peaceful and graceful, seagulls are a relaxing sight along the water. They’re always a welcome part of the lake’s atmosphere, and you’ll enjoy their calming presence as they glide over the waves.

• Osprey – If you spend enough time by the lake, you might be lucky enough to spot an osprey swooping down to catch a fish. They’ll carry their prize up to the treetops, where they enjoy lunch with an impressive view of the lake below.

• Swallows – Swallows can often be seen swooping and diving over the water in the summer months. They’re excellent insect hunters, darting around to gather insects right from the air.

Each bird has its own rhythm here, adding to the peaceful beauty of the cottage surroundings. Take a quiet moment to enjoy their graceful flights and lively behavior.

🐾 Our Furry Friends

The wildlife around the cottage isn’t just limited to the birds and deer—our squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits are a big part of the fun too! Keep your eyes open and your camera ready—you never know when you’ll spot one of these adorable creatures.

• Squirrels – These little acrobats are always busy, playing in the trees and running through the yard. They’ve even been known to drop acorns for the deer to snack on! You’ll likely spot them darting through the branches or foraging for food.

• Chipmunks – Quiet and quick, chipmunks love to keep to the shadows. You’ll often see them scurrying around the yard, trying to stay out of sight, but always moving with purpose. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of one peeking out from behind a rock or tree.

• Rabbits – These gentle creatures seem to pop up at all times of the day. Whether they’re hopping around the yard or nibbling on the grass, rabbits add a peaceful and playful energy to the property.

It’s always a joy to watch these little ones play and interact with their surroundings. Take a moment to enjoy their antics during your stay—they bring a lot of heart to the cottage!

🦝 Raccoons & Opossums
These nocturnal scavengers are often spotted near garbage bins or woodpiles—cute, but best admired from a distance!

🦊 Red Foxes & Coyotes
Though shy, you might see a red fox dart across a field or hear coyotes howling at night in more rural zones.

🦫 Beavers & Muskrats
Visit local creeks or wetlands, like Cowles Creek or nearby Grand River, and you might catch one of these water-loving critters building or swimming.

🦉 Eastern Screech Owls & Barred Owls
At night, listen for the distinctive calls of owls echoing through the trees, especially in the Geneva State Park area.

Madison’s natural beauty makes it the perfect place for wildlife watching, whether you're a casual observer or a serious nature enthusiast. Just remember to respect the animals’ space—and don’t forget your camera!