Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics
- Thread starter Oh Little Oji
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jazzies mum
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We were visited by a Black Headed Python last night. Jazz was NOT at all impressed and sent it out but I went for a closer look. It became a lot calmer without my girl shouting in it's ear and even checked out my hand! 
Non venomous of course and very beautiful. They can grow to around 18ft so this one is just a baby.
Non venomous of course and very beautiful. They can grow to around 18ft so this one is just a baby.
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
They seem to have such shiny healthy skin. I have only seen one big one and it was on a hill slope opposite where I was. About 800mtr away and the glisten as he flowed down the hill caught my eye. Of course I had no camera with me.
The first time I ever saw a black squirrel was in Colorado. It was so unusual and so beautiful! I thought it was really cool. I didn't think we had them in illinois. I had never seen them here.
And then one day I was at my sister's house, which is only about 5 minutes away from me, and I saw black squirrel! I couldn't believe it! I said, I don't have those by me! How the heck do you have them here and I don't?? I didn't even know that they were in our state.
Well, then one day about 4 years ago I was driving down our road and just about to turn into our driveway when I saw a black squirrel on my neighbor's property! I was amazed! But with all the squirrels we have running our property I had neve actually seen one on my property.
Until today.
This morning I was sitting having coffee when I noticed Kali standing on two feet leaning against the window! I thought okay, she sees a squirrel. But when I looked there were actually three or four of them and one of them was the black squirrel!
I quickly switched to camera mode and tried to catch him. Got a short video and was pretty excited! Annie heard all the commotion and she joined us too. Really wanting to chase them. But I just wanted the picture!! Sorry guys!
And then one day I was at my sister's house, which is only about 5 minutes away from me, and I saw black squirrel! I couldn't believe it! I said, I don't have those by me! How the heck do you have them here and I don't?? I didn't even know that they were in our state.
Well, then one day about 4 years ago I was driving down our road and just about to turn into our driveway when I saw a black squirrel on my neighbor's property! I was amazed! But with all the squirrels we have running our property I had neve actually seen one on my property.
Until today.
This morning I was sitting having coffee when I noticed Kali standing on two feet leaning against the window! I thought okay, she sees a squirrel. But when I looked there were actually three or four of them and one of them was the black squirrel!
I quickly switched to camera mode and tried to catch him. Got a short video and was pretty excited! Annie heard all the commotion and she joined us too. Really wanting to chase them. But I just wanted the picture!! Sorry guys!
They are very rare. They are a melanistic subgroup of squirrel caused by some faulty gene. My dad had one at his house when my kids were young and had tons of questions about it. My dad had them do some research on it but I can't remember many of the details.
Have you ever seen birds fighting the reflection in a window or in our case the reflection in the side mirrors of my husband's van!? It's crazy how they do this! So many times when his van is outside there is a bird on his side mirror, jumping at his reflection. And of course pooping all over the side of his van. 
It's usually a cardinal, male or female. But this one I thought might be a brown thrasher. At least that's what I thought it was from far away. I couldn't think of the name when I was doing the video.
It's usually a cardinal, male or female. But this one I thought might be a brown thrasher. At least that's what I thought it was from far away. I couldn't think of the name when I was doing the video.
LOL they can be so territorial when breeding season is starting.
I caught this one of a turkey in our basement window a few years ago.
Y’all have bears…
I have alligators.
I was sitting in my shop working on a broken wind mill when I hear the neighbors dogs barking crazy, daughters screaming and him using a stern voice of direction. Freyja ran to the corner of the fence with hackles up barking, she doesn’t normally do this to the neighbors. I am somewhat concerned but tbh, he is home and his daughters tend to whine and cry a lot.
He sticks his head over the fence and ask me to come help him with something.
A 4-5 foot alligator had come up through his backyard of 1 acre on to his back patio, going toward his crated two dogs.
He was puffing up, hissing and did not look happy. I had a great plan to get him but the neighbor had already officially called 911 and the Sheriffs office was on their way. My wife knew I was 7 beers in and wanted to catch the alligator so she came out there and stopped me before the Sheriff showed up.
Wildlife and Fisheries showed up, caught him with a rope pole and hauled him off. If he would have been in my yard? Tbh, he would be skinned and meat in the freezer. Alligator is some good food.
I have alligators.
I was sitting in my shop working on a broken wind mill when I hear the neighbors dogs barking crazy, daughters screaming and him using a stern voice of direction. Freyja ran to the corner of the fence with hackles up barking, she doesn’t normally do this to the neighbors. I am somewhat concerned but tbh, he is home and his daughters tend to whine and cry a lot.
He sticks his head over the fence and ask me to come help him with something.
A 4-5 foot alligator had come up through his backyard of 1 acre on to his back patio, going toward his crated two dogs.
He was puffing up, hissing and did not look happy. I had a great plan to get him but the neighbor had already officially called 911 and the Sheriffs office was on their way. My wife knew I was 7 beers in and wanted to catch the alligator so she came out there and stopped me before the Sheriff showed up.
Wildlife and Fisheries showed up, caught him with a rope pole and hauled him off. If he would have been in my yard? Tbh, he would be skinned and meat in the freezer. Alligator is some good food.
And y'all can keep them!
I've got birds!!
Yesterday evening after all the storms had gone by I let Kali out to potty. As I looked again I realized she had walked right by this little guy on the deck!!
I panicked, thinking if she ever saw this bird she would get it for sure! She is so fast. She had already walked down the stairs so for the moment we were fine. I had to think fast. And looking at the top of his head, I thought that orange spot was a cut! I thought he hit the window and split his little head open.
Turns out it was just his coloring! Whew!I showed my husband and he started putting on his shoes. I said where are you going ? what are you going to do? He said, well, we can't leave him here the dogs will get him. He carefully walked out and scooped up the little guy in both hands and walked down the stairs. He held out his hand and the little guy just clung to his finger!
He said come down here and get a picture while he's still sitting here!
Sooooo cute!
So then I started the video.
At the end of the video I ended up dropping my phone!
He carefully put the bird on a branch and it kind of flew up into the tree! So it was a good ending. I hope he completely recovered and went on with his life.
I immediately went in and did a search on the picture and found out that it was a Golden-Crowned Kinglet! I never heard of the name but looking at the little bird I realized I've seen them around with that little orange top. So now I've got a name to put with it! Just stay away from my windows, will ya!
Just the other day we had a huge flock of cow birds doing it. I thought I was staring in a movie! It was crazy!
Yeah, no. Something that lives in the water seems more foreign to me.
Last night my next door neighbor texted that his wife crossed paths with a mountain lion on her evening walk.But I agree on the skin & meat - are they year-round free for the taking?
