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We once had an infestation of skunks under our porch after leaving out food. The only way we could get rid of them was by putting lutefisk under there. Drove 'em right out.
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The humor (or practicality) in that may not be apparent to most readers.
Eeks! I love the idea of a yard sparkling with spider eyes. Gives me goosebumps and reminds me of what my mom always said about not liking spiders. "They stare at me." LOL
We had a possum up a tree in our yard and my son went out with a flashlight to see what it was. Said he thought it was a Martian at first.
Location: Approximately 50 miles from Missoula MT/38 yrs full time after 4 yrs part time
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Deer at night/close to house/1000 Lumens Head lamp.......
I recently bought a 1000 Lumens head lamp so I could have both hands free while standing on my deck and watching my 13 yr old brittany, at 10:30 at night, take his last "potty-run" of the evening.
I live "out in the boonies " in White Tail" country.
There is absolutely no other 'light-source' where I live......just the stars and varying degrees of moon-light.......on nights with little to no moonlight, it truly is "Pitch Dark"...........however,
with the 1000 lumens LED light swept horizontally across the field directly to the south of my house, I recently counted 22 pair of "deer-eyes" looking at the source of the light.
The closest "pair of eyes" were approx 30 yards away......the furthest were out at about 200 yards.
The area were this 'night-feeding" takes place is a treeless area about 700 feet wide and 600 feet deep.
Lots of native grasses and buck-brush in this area.
I would estimate that these local deer do 70 to 80 % of their feeding in the darkest hours of late night and early morning.
Really results in a somewhat uncommon feeling/sensation to have 22 pair of eyes looking back at you because of the very bright light and not be able to make out the animal it self.
While taking Mr Yap for his walk in our city wood, I was listening to some people talking about the lack of nature in our cities. This was amusing for me because behind us was a tree full of crows giving stress to a buzzard; in front of us flew a buzzard hunting wood pigeons; to the right of the tree that had became empty of pigeons were some ring necked parakeets; and near the path was the remains of a sparrowhawk kill that the people had just walked by. I was thinking to myself they see no nature because they do not look.
So when I went in to the city that afternoon, I had a look to see what I could see. More ring necked parakeets (but they are so loud you can not miss them); the common stock ducks; a sparrow hawk hunting starlings (with no success); a green woodpecker; a great spotted woodpecker; different beetles; a Marienkäfer (Lady Bug?); and fox droppings full of berry seeds. This was just animals, we also have many small plants growing in the cracks of the side walks.
One does not need to live where the fox and hare say goodnight to see nature.
While taking Mr Yap for his walk in our city wood, I was listening to some people talking about the lack of nature in our cities. This was amusing for me because behind us was a tree full of crows giving stress to a buzzard; in front of us flew a buzzard hunting wood pigeons; to the right of the tree that had became empty of pigeons were some ring necked parakeets; and near the path was the remains of a sparrowhawk kill that the people had just walked by. I was thinking to myself they see no nature because they do not look.
So when I went in to the city that afternoon, I had a look to see what I could see. More ring necked parakeets (but they are so loud you can not miss them); the common stock ducks; a sparrow hawk hunting starlings (with no success); a green woodpecker; a great spotted woodpecker; different beetles; a Marienkäfer (Lady Bug?); and fox droppings full of berry seeds. This was just animals, we also have many small plants growing in the cracks of the side walks.
One does not need to live where the fox and hare say goodnight to see nature.
In regards to urban nature it's my understanding that Peregrine Falcons are thriving in NYC and a couple other big city's. Plenty of food in the form of pigeons and lots of high places. If I were a cubicle dweller on the 30th floor of some building I would be thrilled to see falcons dusting pigeons outside the window. That would be massive cool.
I'll have to look it up but I do remember some news reports about this when the raptors were introduced. That was back in the late 80s I believe.
We have a six month old whitetail fawn and a doe with her fawn, a couple of crows, and six Eastern wild turkeys visiting our food plot daily. The other deer already left for their winter feeding grounds.
Saw our seasonal American kestrel perched atop an unopened palm frond. I thought hmm, I wonder if he’s going to show off?
Yes! He swooped down, did a little hovering, then came right down in front of me and scooped up a lizard. He barely stayed on the ground for a second, but he did look back at me. I like to think he winked.
A Northern Pygmy Owl calmly perched on a post around mid-day today. It was awake but barely moved during the several minutes we looked at it. Pretty little thing.
Saw our seasonal American kestrel perched atop an unopened palm frond. I thought hmm, I wonder if he’s going to show off?
Yes! He swooped down, did a little hovering, then came right down in front of me and scooped up a lizard. He barely stayed on the ground for a second, but he did look back at me. I like to think he winked.
Good show, and just for you!
For some reason, I particularly love those birds...
A Northern Pygmy Owl calmly perched on a post around mid-day today. It was awake but barely moved during the several minutes we looked at it. Pretty little thing.
Well, aren't you the lucky one
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Not observing nature
