Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics

[LifeofRubie]

Oh, wow!

We heard a lot of that during our last camping trip so I did a little googling... and what I read (because everything on the internet is true) is that it's usually a very small number of coyotes making all that ruckus but it sounds like a lot to keep other packs away!

Oh, found it!: When people hear coyote howls, they often mistakenly assume that they’re hearing a large pack of animals, all raising their voices at once. But this is an auditory illusion called the “beau geste” effect. Because of the variety of sounds produced by each coyote, and the way sound is distorted as it passes through the environment, two of these tricksters can sound like seven or eight animals.

Still not going to run out there and try and count them

 

[JanS]

Boy they're noisy critters. When I was away for training they'd go off like that every time a train would go by.

 

[MyBuddy]

@LifeofRubie Interesting! I'm wondering if there is a difference between howling and the actual type of 'barking' that they're doing in the video? I mean they sound like they're just yip, yip, yipping! And actually I don't know what constitutes a 'pack' but for me I'm thinking there's maybe six of them? There have been times in the past where they've woke us up in the middle of a summer night with the windows open, sounding like they were going right by our bedroom window! We have some spotlights off our sunroom, which is right next to our bedroom, and I would sometimes jump up and throw the light on. I never see them but it seems like it shut them up! LOL

 

[Ravenbird]

Also, it's mating season and so lots of regrouping going on. Generally a male & female that are mates let their pups be part of the pack for a year or two. Then when mating season happens they start ousting some of the teenagers, so the teenagers are now searching new pack friends/mates and there are territories to claim or get run off from. Unlike our dogs, coyotes and wolves only come into heat once a year and always in late winter, early spring, depending on the climate where they live. Lots of activities at this time of year and they're all out their talking about it! But @LifeofRubie is right. It's a fact that I've always thought: 2 sounds like 20. And I think they know it!

 

[JanS]

A White breasted Nuthatch at the feeder yesterday.

 

[MyBuddy]

I'm always amazed at how many times I find a bunch of feathers on the ground at the back of our property! Almost always around the same area.

Found a bunch just like this while walking Kali this morning.


What's your thoughts? An owl or other bird of prey eating another bird? A coyote?? I mean, I've seen black feathers, white feathers, brown feathers! This time it's brown. There were a bunch scattered on the ground but it was hard to get a good picture.

 

[Rits]

I'm always amazed at how many times I find a bunch of feathers on the ground at the back of our property! Almost always around the same area.

Found a bunch just like this while walking Kali this morning.
View attachment 132809

What's your thoughts? An owl or other bird of prey eating another bird? A coyote?? I mean, I've seen black feathers, white feathers, brown feathers! This time it's brown. There were a bunch scattered on the ground but it was hard to get a good picture.

That looks like a chicken primary wing or tail feather to me Is your neighbor missing any chickens?

 

[Ravenbird]

If it's a chicken, even a small one, a bird of prey can't carry it. Songbirds, maybe, but not chickens. They'll hit and kill a chicken and pick on it at the site. Coyotes, Bobcats, Fox etc. will carry it to a safe place to eat it. The fact that you have the same area for dining suggests a mammal predator to me, and so many are birds, I'd bet Bobcat. Do you have a critter cam you could set up in that area?

 

[MyBuddy]

That looks like a chicken primary wing or tail feather to me Is your neighbor missing any chickens?

Well the closest chickens that I know is one neighbor about 25 acres to the South. And my one girlfriend about a mile down the road. And another one in the opposite direction that's probably a good mile away. It's hard to Fathom that an animal, maybe a coyote, would kill and take an animal from one of these people and bring it all the way over to my property. Kind of in the same spot that I've seen other feathers. So I'm not sure I'm believing that. And it's odd that it seems like it's always around the same area on the back. I think I posted pictures before of the feathers I've found. I'll have to do a search. So I tend to believe more that it's a hawk or an owl sitting up on that tree. But where is it getting another bird to eat after dark? Just a mystery.

 

[MyBuddy]

. Do you have a critter cam you could set up in that area?

You know I do. Now that you reminded me! I think I should do that.

 

[Ravenbird]

any time I put a critter cam on the creek I'd bait with a little food (scrapings off the dinner plate or skillet) - In my area I get foxes or javelinas. This is outside the dog fence area. We have bears, but 7 years now, I still haven't seen one.

 

[MyBuddy]

any time I put a critter cam on the creek I'd bait with a little food (scrapings off the dinner plate or skillet)

Oh, I don't want to do that. I don't want to encourage anything onto my property that thinks they'll get food. They need to be afraid of me, not thinking it's a fast food joint.

We have bears, but 7 years now, I still haven't seen one.

I think I'd if I saw a !!

 

[Gpcoguy]

I never worry too much about bears unless they have cubs with them. Its the lions that i dont like

 

[Two Dobes]

This was 2 summers ago....look at this prehistoric guy!!!

 

[JanS]

I think I'd if I saw a !!

Don't come here then since the damn things come right up on our deck every summer. Those big bear tracks we had on our patio door last summer weren't easy to wash off so it must have had pitch on it's paws.

 

[MyBuddy]

Don't come here then since the damn things come right up on our deck every summer. Those big bear tracks we had on our patio door last summer weren't easy to wash off so it must have had pitch on it's paws.

I know! I remember!

If I do, you'd have to be cleaning the that l leave!!! Of course, I'll be taking a quick snapshot with my phone before I do!! Can't miss that!

 

[Ravenbird]

I don't want to encourage anything onto my property that thinks they'll get food. They need to be afraid of me, not thinking it's a fast food joint.

Where I did this was outside the fence near the creek. It's our property, but we didn't fence it. ALL the forest creatures go along the creek all year long, bait or no bait. Critter cam has got coyote, fox, javelina & deer, but no bear. We've seen the bear tracks and a neighbor called to say there was a bear in the creek by our house, but it was gone by the time we went to look. Next door got a mountain lion on his critter cam right in his driveway.

I never worry too much about bears unless they have cubs with them.

Same here. Momma bears are deadly serious.

 

[JanS]

ALL the forest creatures go along the creek all year long, bait or no bait.

That's definitely true so you never know what you're going to get. There are even rattle snakes here in MN along rivers to our south.

 

[jazzies mum]

I am just loving how many koalas are around the Murray River where I'm camping. This one crossed the road for some fresh new gum leaves with Jazz doing crazy barking tethered at camp. No fear here!

 

[MyBuddy]

I am just loving how many koalas are around the Murray River where I'm camping. This one crossed the road for some fresh new gum leaves with Jazz doing crazy barking tethered at camp. No fear here!View attachment 132957View attachment 132958View attachment 132959

Are they as adorable as the media make them out to be? I mean can you walk right up to them and they're friendly? Or can they be mean? I've seen so many videos and pictures over the years of people helping them through a drought or a fire and they seem as friendly as a dog looking for help.