A question about climbing snakes on fences, a velvet dollar, the mild predictions for Lake Erie’s algae blooms, and Bassmaster’s ranking of the best bass lakes are among Chicago’s outdoor notes.

Ratings come from all over Chicago in the open air and beyond.

BUCK OF THE WEEK: UNPLUGGÉ

Jay damm photographed this’ velvet buck trophy standing in [his] driveway to Tinley Park. These are frequent visitors to my yard after dark, usually during the cold winter months, but this one caught me off guard. I would like to see him in about three months.

BOTW Unplugged, the live-action big-money celebration around Chicago outdoors, takes place as it should in the special two-page outdoor section of the Sun-Times Sports on Saturday. To make submissions, send an email [email protected] or contact me on Facebook (Dale bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutdoor) or Instagram (@BowmanOutdoor).

WILD TIME

AUXILIARY OF THE AMERICAN COAST GUARD

Next Saturday July 10: Boat America, Chicago, Dan O’Connell, [email protected] . . Weekend Navigator, Waukegan, Curt Schumacher, [email protected]

FISHING DERBY

Friday July 9 to July 18: New dates for the postponed Kankakee River Fishing Derby, kankakeefishingderby.com

DALE MAIL BAG

Snakes warm up on a fence in Brookfield.

Provided

“Why are the snakes chilling over the fences in Brookfield?” ” Matt C. the Saturday

A: I guessed over time that they were emerging from standing water or warming up. But I rechecked with Chris Phillips, senior herpetologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey, who emailed: “Both of your suggestions are probably correct. The accumulated water cooled them and to dry out, they climbed the fence. The metal fence also absorbs heat from the sun and the snake can transfer that heat to its body.

LARGE NUMBER

1: Ranking Lake Fork, Texas in the Bassmaster 100 Best Bass Lakes. In the central zone, Newton Lake of Illinois was 23rd. Click here for more announcements.

LAST WORD

“NOAA and its research partners predict that western Lake Erie will experience below average harmful algal blooms this summer. A relatively dry spring will result in a repeat of last year’s gentle bloom – this is the first time in over a dozen years that gentle blooms have occurred in consecutive summers.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, on the algal bloom expected this year to measure 3, as in 2020; the largest blooms occurred in 2011 (10) and 2015 (10.5). Click here for more