Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics
- Thread starter Oh Little Oji
- Start date
Our daughter and grandchildren were in for the Memorial Day weekend when she spotted this.
I can't say I've ever seen that before. Or if I did I forgot. But he sure was unusual. Of course we had to look him up and find out the name. And also that he is harmless.
Odd thing is, it says it's one of South Carolina's largest click beetle.
What's he doing in Illinois? 
I can't say I've ever seen that before. Or if I did I forgot. But he sure was unusual. Of course we had to look him up and find out the name. And also that he is harmless.
Odd thing is, it says it's one of South Carolina's largest click beetle.
What's he doing in Illinois?
Sitting in my breakfast room having coffee just now with Kali keeping watch out the door. She suddenly starts barking. I figured, another squirrel. 
But nope. These two guys. Or gals. 
I haven't seen a deer here since probably last year or more. Took a video but she was barking so loud, a still picture is much better! 
And when I first woke up, this guy was on the window! (outside) We finally got an inch of rain over the last 2 days and I think the frogs are happy!
But nope. These two guys. Or gals. I haven't seen a deer here since probably last year or more. Took a video but she was barking so loud, a still picture is much better! And when I first woke up, this guy was on the window! (outside) We finally got an inch of rain over the last 2 days and I think the frogs are happy!
And of course, we didn't close up that little hole in the peak of my horse barn and babies were born.
. I told my husband he's got to close that up months ago. He didn't do it. He closed it up a couple of years ago to keep the starlings out. But it turned out there was just enough opening that a tiny Sparrow can get in there. So I've been dealing with that for the last few years. I hate it. It's a long drop from the nest to the ground. Concrete ground. Birds must be a little stupid in where they make their nests.
So yesterday I go out there and there's a baby bird sitting on the concrete next to the overhead door. Thankfully I got Kali into my tack room before she got to him. I gently took him in a net and put him outside under a day lily. I saw an adult bird going over to him so that made me feel better. Then last night I go in there and Kali was sniffing at something behind a chair. Another bird! I quickly removed her to the tack room again and took the bird in a net and put him outside. Hoping an adult comes back again like the first one.
Unfortunately there was a dead one laying there also.
I'm hoping that they have all flown the coop now. I told my husband get up there and close that up before they start another brood! 
. I told my husband he's got to close that up months ago. He didn't do it. He closed it up a couple of years ago to keep the starlings out. But it turned out there was just enough opening that a tiny Sparrow can get in there. So I've been dealing with that for the last few years. I hate it. It's a long drop from the nest to the ground. Concrete ground. Birds must be a little stupid in where they make their nests. So yesterday I go out there and there's a baby bird sitting on the concrete next to the overhead door. Thankfully I got Kali into my tack room before she got to him. I gently took him in a net and put him outside under a day lily. I saw an adult bird going over to him so that made me feel better. Then last night I go in there and Kali was sniffing at something behind a chair. Another bird! I quickly removed her to the tack room again and took the bird in a net and put him outside. Hoping an adult comes back again like the first one.
Unfortunately there was a dead one laying there also.
I'm hoping that they have all flown the coop now. I told my husband get up there and close that up before they start another brood!
Just got the horses out of the barn and I kept hearing a chirping. Finally hit me it was a baby bird. Then I saw a male and a female hovering nearby. I could tell where the chirping was coming from but not the exact location. Until I saw Kali with her nose to the ground and her tail wagging LOL I knew she had something. Well, the baby was under the pallet that the new hay was stacked on against the wall. I got down on my hands and knees to see and sure enough there he was. When he saw me he moved to the back of the pallet. I told him that he was on his own! LOL I didn't want to scare him further and somehow get lost in there. So I let Ma and Pop do their thing. I opened both barn doors to show him the light! LOL This is the way out! Go!
The closer one is definitely a guy and I can't tell for sure on the other one.
Aren't gators very common there?
They are not indigenous to the area.
Someone put it there.
East Texas is about as far west as they inhabit, in the wild.
Come to think of it, they did find one in the Mississippi here in northern Mn 5 or so years ago. They figure someone put it there or there was a tiny possibility the it followed the river up and acclimated as it went.
Well, the first batch of baby sparrows are done in my barn. The totals that I saw were two dead and two alive. If more made it out alive, I didn't see them. But I don't like seeing the dead ones either. I told my husband he's got to get up there and close up that hole so nobody else can make a nest up there. I don't like dealing with these birds! It kills me when I find them dead and it kills me when I find a live one and he can't fly! I have to worry about him being killed too. What the heck? Don't these birds know not to fly the coop when they can't fly!? And seriously, mama bird, why do you make a nest 20 ft in the air where you're non-flying fledglings come crashing down to concrete? Seriously! Find a different nest! 
Even when I have that overhead door open, they come out of the nest and land on the top of the door. And die. Then when I close the door they fall to the ground and I find them outside on the ground. It's still too far of a drop from that nest!
Even when I have that overhead door open, they come out of the nest and land on the top of the door. And die. Then when I close the door they fall to the ground and I find them outside on the ground.
It's still too far of a drop from that nest!
Ughhh, I went into my barn earlier and laying on the ground was a hummingbird. 
I couldn't tell if it was the wind or if he was moving slightly. I let him be hoping when I go back out there he flew away. I've had Birds hit the window before and I just let them be. Let them recover a little bit and many of them fly away. I'm hoping for this little guy.
I couldn't tell if it was the wind or if he was moving slightly. I let him be hoping when I go back out there he flew away. I've had Birds hit the window before and I just let them be. Let them recover a little bit and many of them fly away. I'm hoping for this little guy.
Wow we've never had a hummer hit the window before. We did find one that was stuck inside our hot Morton building several years ago that I brought in and once it started coming around, it took some nectar that I offered it. That one turned out just fine, thank goodness.
We had an Indigo Bunting on the deck a few days ago but before I could get a focused photo a
blue jay chased it off... Grr.
We had an Indigo Bunting on the deck a few days ago but before I could get a focused photo a
blue jay chased it off... Grr.
Well theres not too many windows in my barn for him to hit. The overhead door was partially down. Maybe he hit that? I don't know what he hit but he didn't make it.
I'm doing some kitty-sitting for my neighbor. Cat gets to go out in the fenced area while I'm there. I do other stuff but keep checking on the cat and saw her looking hard at something, I assumed a bird maybe. Then saw what she was looking at - a whole mess of Javalinas just a few feet on the other side of the fence! I'll have to put a short video on youtube to share here. They scattered pretty fast, but then just stop and turn around and stare at you.
Well, holy sh*t! That would scare the bejeevers out of me. But that cat does not look fazed!
So I’ve heard conflicting reports on these guys.
Most, say they do not taste good.
A few guys will say if they were killed sudden and without fear the meat is as good as any store bought pork.
What say you?
I’m always curious about people’s local game.
I've never eaten it, so no first hand opinion, but what you said - They DO have a musk gland on their back, so that's what will give an off taste if that gets in the mix during a hunt. Here's the whole story of how to put a javelina on the table:
Cooking Javelina - How to Cook Javelina | Hank Shaw
Javelina are every bit as good, if not better, than wild pigs. Cooking javelina is not hard, if you follow these tips and tricks.
honest-food.net
LifeofRubie
Moderator
When we were visiting Orlando area of Florida several years ago, we met up with my cousin at like 4:30a for a hike. We got out of the car at the preserve parking lot and heard... PIGS. It was almost too dark to see them but you could hear them grunting and running around. No thanks.
