Ivan Lake is named after a wonderful dog who loved water and being in it. The lake is the centerpiece of the property and the focus of its ecology. At nearly thirty feet deep, this kettle lake is one of the deepest around, the last to freeze and thaw. Just as its scenic beauty varies through the seasons, the botany and wildlife are equally compelling.
In terms of mammals, moose and both species of bears are regular visitors. Nearly every year we witness moose swimming from one end of the lake to the other, once even past us as we sat in the canoe! Another evening we watched (from the living room) two brown bear cubs wrestling in the lake, as their mother browsed along the shore. After half an hour the mother barked at them to get out, and they disappeared into the woods. Brown bears tend to pass through in spring and fall, and black bears have been seen twice. Wolf tracks were seen once on snow on the lake, and marten tracks are common in winter. Coyotes have passed through in winter too, always carefully on the far side of the lake.
While I have not kept an accurate list of mammals, I have maintained a "yard list" of nearly 70 bird species seen on the property. Osprey routinely bring fish they have caught in Montana Creek, and eat them on spruce tops around the lake. One spring the hoots of three species of owls could be heard simultaneously, boreal, northern saw-whet and great horned. Pacific loons are the constant stars though; every spring, the day after the lake thaws, the Pacific loons are there.
There are seven wild edible berries to be found and harvested on the land, along with a planted berry patch that has raspberries, black currants and gooseberries. The forest is mature birch/spruce forest that was spared from the huge fires that swept the region nearly a century ago. Gigantic birch trees are spread through the forest and, in fact, the property hosts Betula Majestic, the largest birch tree in the state of Alaska.
The beautiful land of this property is extensive and virtually untouched. Several kilometers of trails have been constructed on the property that provide the opportunity to step out the door, put on skis or snowshoes, or mount a bike, or simply walk and explore the wilderness.
