Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics

[LifeofRubie]

Wow! I can't believe you have fox right at your front door!! All the years we've lived out here I've never seen one. But that doesn't mean they haven't crossed the property, I guess. I just missed them! lol Now that I know 'what the fox says' I HAVE heard them! Speaking of critters, did you see the news about the coyote that got a family pet in Wheaton?? Sorry, this content is not available in your region. VERY sad! I am still keeping big eyes on Kali!!

@jazzies mum I love all the different wildlife you have !! Keep posting!!

Edit: I don't know why that link says that but it worked for me. Let me know.

Worked for me, too!

Regardless of our fence, we shine a flashlight out into the backyard 99.9% of the time when we let the dogs our at night. Now that we've had run ins with Skunks, Raccoons, and Opossums IN our fenced yard, and have literally stood across the street from a Fox and watched it stalk the neighbors cats and Coyotes trot down the sidewalks, we KNOW there are bad news critters out there. I was to say I don't THINK a coyote would go after either of our dogs because of the plentiful food here but I don't see why Wheaton would be any different as it's just 10-15 away.

When/If we catch a black bear like @JanS on our doorbell, then the dogs will be on LEASHES every time we go outside

 

[MyBuddy]

Regardless of our fence, we shine a flashlight out into the backyard 99.9% of the time when we let the dogs our at night.

Me Too!!! Anytime it is dark, morning or night, my flashlight is my best friend. I only let Kali out with the e-collar on and a flashlight in hand! I feel like The Bodyguard. I scan the area, under the deck and even in the trees. (owls? Who knows! ) I do feel a sense of well being with Buddy along. But I fear for him too. I have mixed feelings that they will mess with him, but who wants to find out!?

And bears are just not in my vocabulary!! That's a deal breaker! lol!

I was to say I don't THINK a coyote would go after either of our dogs because of the plentiful food here but I don't see why Wheaton would be any different as it's just 10-15 away.

That dog was 20lbs. Bigger than I thought a coyote would tackle. Coyotes probably wouldn't mess with our Dobermans and your lab. But I worry about a pack. And I think it's mating season now too. That story was heartbreaking. The owner said the sound was unbearable. The screaming by humans and critters was something that will live with her the rest of her life. It's something I don't think I would ever get over.

 

[MyBuddy]

There were lots of birds out at my suet feeders so I went out there and put some new stuff out there, crumbling some on the ground too. So that more can get their fill. Two Cardinals showed up quickly! I always have lots of different kinds of woodpeckers,
Chickadees and nuthatches.

 

[JanS]

We're trying to figure out how this happened. It's a dead squirrel hanging off a tree but we don't know how it died or why the ravens haven't eaten it yet. It does look like it's tail might be stuck in a hole in the tree but beyond that, we can't figure it out.

 

[MyBuddy]

I'm having a hard time trying to make it out. Is it on the right side there?

 

[jazzies mum]

A small snake skin. Jazz is most offended by it as it's on the table for the photo. Much deep grumbling going on!
I've actually had to put it in a garbage bag and remove it as Jazz just can't settle. She smells snake!

 

[JanS]

I'm having a hard time trying to make it out. Is it on the right side there?

Yes it's on the right side of the trunk. You must be looking from your phone?

A small snake skin.

That's small???? In the photo it looks about 6' long. LOL

 

[jazzies mum]

@JanS The joys of getting up close with the camera! It was about 2ft long, but still too much snake for Jazz! She has a special bark for them, for which I am grateful.

Did you find out what caused the demise of that squirrel? Seems really strange!

 

[MyBuddy]

Yes it's on the right side of the trunk. You must be looking from your phone?

Yes, I am, but I can zoom right in. It seems all the same color and hard to make out definition. I think I see it but I'm going to try on my computer too.

 

[MyBuddy]

A small snake skin.

Zooming in on that is pretty cool! Especially the head.

 

[JanS]

The joys of getting up close with the camera! It was about 2ft long, but still too much snake for Jazz!

That's about 2' too much for me too. LOL

 

[jazzies mum]

I am really pleased and surprised. The pair of Brolgas who nested out in the drought stricken dry swamp did successfully rear two chicks, from just two eggs! I didn't give them a chance, and after watching them sit for what seemed ages one day there was just a few bits of shell, and no sign of them anywhere. Thought they had either been raided, or abandoned their eggs. This morning they wandered up with these two chicks of about 8wks age.

 

[Gelcoater]

I’m happy this thread came up.
No pics
A few days ago I saw a flock of geese on the way home from work. It was orangy Sky, borderline headlights time.
Shortly after another flock, slightly smaller than the first.
We don’t see that often here anymore.

So later that night I’d got home, showered and ate.
Rocky and I went out after.
I hear a honk up in the darkish sky.
I can see stars but spotty clouds overhead are still illuminated by the now fallen sun.

I’m trying to see if there’s a flock or just a few random goose.
Then I hear it.
Wings!
Hundreds and hundreds of wings!
I could hear them moving the air!
And honking at each other, lol, but mostly the wings and air.

A flock so thick they blotted out the stars and clouds above them, the sun reflecting off their breast and underwings.
It was awesome!
I’ve never seen a flock of geese that big in so cal.
It seemed a bit odd to me? Heading south in March??

Lol, even the geese are smarter than me.
They’re fleeing California

 

[MyBuddy]

Then I hear it.
Wings!
Hundreds and hundreds of wings!

Wow! That it had to be a sight to see!

 

[MyBuddy]

Thought they had either been raided, or abandoned their eggs. This morning they wandered up with these two chicks of about 8wks age.

Woohoo! Tough birds!

 

[JanS]

A few days ago I saw a flock of geese on the way home from work.

Okay at first I read that as the flock of geese were on the way home from work.

We get those huge flocks in the spring and fall and it is a sight to see for sure.

 

[Gelcoater]

Okay at first I read that as the flock of geese were on the way home from work. .

They may have been?

 

[jazzies mum]

In the wee hours of last night Jazz started a serious alert. I thought there was a humungous python around, but no, it was only this poor echidna looking for a drink. Dogs hate them for some reason!
Sorry about the grainy quality, it was by torchlight. The tail is at the bottom and the little leathery beak like snout is tucked under at the top. It is on corrugated iron for an idea of size. They eat termites, yippee!

 

[MyBuddy]

it was only this poor echidna looking for a drink

Looks like a porcupine!

I was out walking with Buddy this morning

and he found this.

A dead mole! The best kind!




Pain in the ass little creatures who goes through the ground popping up molehills


or lines of their trenches

 

[MyBuddy]

I think Kali found something!