Little red squirrel pitches woo with sad brown eyes. (Karen Wils)

ESCANABA – Everybody is making eyes!

Just beyond our windowpanes, winks are everywhere.

Flirtation is up in the air. The tree tops echo with love songs.

The dance is on throughout the forests and fields. The crazy March hares kick-box and romp. Romance rules at this time of the year!

As winter wanes, spring fever sets in, not just for the humans, but for Upper Michigan’s wildlife too.

Old eagle eyes waits for his partner. (Karen Wils)

As old as time, as repetitious as the sunrise, the mating season heats up in the north woods every year about this time.

They made it through the worst of winter. It’s time to think about creating the next generation. Every year, it’s the same. Every year it is an awesome privilege to get caught up in the craziness going on right in our backyards.

Some critters, like bears, bobcats, coyotes and wolves, are already nursing their young — or will be very soon.

Some birds are already sitting on eggs like owls.

The does are bred and now require more food for the developing fawns within. Deer metabolism is slow in the winter.

Many species are now starting to eye up the competition. The mourning doves are pitching woo and finding sticks for nest building.

Just watch around the bird feeder for a while. The male goldfinches are turning a brighter shade of yellow. They swoop down at each other trying to impress the females.

The nuthatch birds bob and weave around tree trucks trying to catch each other’s eyes.

The red squirrels are goofy and giddy. They play a lover’s tag on the cement snow. Just watching them frolic is enough to make you dizzy.

The eagles put on an amazing aerial dance. Just the opposite of most birds, the female eagle is a bit bigger and a bit more majestic than the male eagle.

In the cold, blue sky above an icy river, the eagles chirp, and call. Their yellow eyes meet. They lock talons and tumble, free falling over the treetops.

The mating ritual is in full swing from the Keweenaw to the Mackinaw! River otters roll in the wet snow. Snow melt and open waterways signal the muskrats to fall in love just like in the old Captain and Tennille song.

The eyes have it at this time of the year! There’s a lot of love in those wild eyes. A spring fling and a little March madness can make everyone feel young and carefree again!