Local Wildlife

[debster812]

It seems we have a family of grey foxes in our area.

My DH works for the company that distrubutes Boboli pizza shells (yummy). He just tossed a couple of large ones out in the yard for the birds.

Well...don't you know, apparently, foxes like Boboli.

Funniest thing I have seen in a long time, is this smallish fox, running across the yard with this Boboli (that was as big as him) running across the yard.

I'm not related the story very well, but trust me, it was funny.

 

[Goofyposter]

Groosch! kinder re-defines 'take-out'!


nert that I git 'em very often....but Boboli is good..!


Jurst becareful they dernt git teu used ter finding food around yer place Deb!

 

[debster812]

Nope,

They generally don't get much of anything, there's waaaayyyyy too many 'critters' around here. These were just staler than stale, so we thought the birds would get them.

Who knew foxes liked carbs?

 

[Saffron]

I love foxes. When they're in my yard, I run inside and lock the door. I guess I think they know how to jiggle the door knob to get in or something. LOL!!

Yesterday Deb, I had a juvenille red tailed hawk sitting on my bedroom roof. I was talking to it, about 10 feet away and it wouldn't fly away. I thought maybe it was hurt, but I was probably the first human he saw after leaving the nest for good. He/she kept cocking his/her head from side to side listening to me, but it wouldn't move. Finally, it slowly spread it's wings and slowly took off for other parts.

I love wildlife.

 

[NHAnn]

We had red foxes hanging out back of our house a couple of summers ago. They were really fun to watch out the window at night.

Normally...I love wildlife.
But this week....the longest hottest stretch of weather in 25 years here.......there seems to be a SKUNK denned up in a drainage ditch behind our house. And more often than not, when we venture out to water the plants on the back deck , check the hummingbird feeders, fill the birdbath, or if we open the deck slider or kitchen windows hoping the air outside is finally cooler than inside (we only have AC in the bedrooms) you get a subtle but distinct waft of skunk...............yuck....in the hot humid weather it's really really unpleasant Can't figure it out, haven't seen the darn thing at all (DH says that's a good sign becasue they are nocturnal and if it WAS out during the day it would be cause for worry) but man, it stinks around here. But other than that..........I really love wildlife.

 

[debster812]

NHAnn,

I have NO idea what is up with skunk population this year, but they are EVERYWHERE.

Saffron,

A red tail hawk, I am jealous. We abut a golf course, so we have all kinds of birds. There are some Great Blue Herons that we see a couple times a week, flying over the yard.

 

[SeaSpray]

Speaking of local wildlife, Deb.....

For the first time in the entire 5 years I've lived here in Massachusetts, I saw a Ssssssssssnake! It was right under my feet as I was walking with the sprinkler to the front yard!

It was tiny....but I screamed anyway! I can deal with anything except SNAKESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!


I've seen foxes and deer in my backyard Deb... we have woods right behind our house. Of course we have the usual rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and a cute frog family living in the flowerbed right outside my back porch

 

[Saffron]

Deb! When the herons fly over, don't they look like some sort of pre-historic bird that I can't spell!! LOL!! The ptaradactyl things. LOL!! They are too cool!

I like stunks too! LOL!! They don't smell to good but they sure are cute!!

SeaSpray -- the little family of frogs, could they be toads? I love toads, but I'm a little tiny bit afraid of frogs 'cause they jump so high and so fast!! I love little tiny toads though!

I love this thread. LOL!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Saffron: They are brownish and bumpy! So....would they be toads then? I tend to use the word "frog" in a generic sense sometimes, but you're probably right. To be honest, I don't know the difference between frogs and toads *hangs head in shame* The mother frog is a good size....at least as big as the palm of my hand in diameter, and sat about 4-5" tall. Now you've got me wondering! LOL

Regarding herons: So THAT'S what those pteradactyl-looking things are that we've seen flying around here! We live close to Debster, so apparently they're in this area. Early one morning DH and I saw one near the birdbath in our backyard....we thought it looked like something right from Jurassic Park!

Now I'm going to research herons, frogs, and toads... I love the internet; knowledge at your fingertips

 

[debster812]

SeaSpray,

'Your' Herons probably 'live' at the golf course on 106 by the Trucci's. They do totally look prehistoric, but very cool.

Maggie, Ian (the dino-boy) would correct you and say that they are Pteradons, because he likes them better. lol

This is cool. Now, my other funny wildlife stories:

DH leaves the house between 3 and 3:15am (yes AM) to go to work, so he sees all the critters.

One day (night) he was driving up our road, and there were 3 or 4 young deer in the middle of the street. He flashed the high beams and honked at them, and he said they FROZE, then scattered, and two of them fell down!!! lol. He said it was legs, and hooves everywhere. Everyone got up and scampered off, so they were fine. You just never think that wildlife could be clumsy.

 

[Saffron]

SeaSpray - they sound like little toads to me! I love toads. The difference in frogs and toads is that frogs need water to live in, toads need a little bit of water to kind of bathe or shower in. Frogs JUMP!!!! Toads hop. LOL!! Little hops, not big springing jumps like frogs. Toads are bumpy and frogs are smooth. Now, could be completely wrong. LOL!!

And yes, herons are the birds that look pre-historic, like right out of Jurassic Park!! Aren't they cool!!! My dog LOVES when they fly over. He doesn't chase them, he just watches them in amazement until they fly out of sight.

I love the Internet too! It's like a huge, wonderful library! I love it. I love this thread! LOL!!

 

[Goofyposter]

Groosch!! Maybe ah little wildlife identification refresher course might help yer!

Seen here, in the fore ground are frogs....Thar in front of the chickens....and very much hang out anywhar yer can hear water...splash...

The Toad...a now very more difficult ter find critter is land based....and is prone to mania's.....

Hope this helps!

 

[Saffron]

LOL GP!!!! If I ever see frogs like that in my backyard, I promise I won't be afraid of them! LOL!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Goofyposter: Well that certainly helped! It was the cane and top hat that gave it away... The little family living outside here are definitely toads; even the little kiddie toads have top hats and canes

 

[Saffron]

LOL SeaSpray!!! When they start driving their little cars around, let me know. A trip to MA might be in store for me. LOL!!

 

[debster812]

LOL SeaSpray