Urban Wildlife

Is that youngster looking for dinner? No mom in sight? Is it even old enough to be out on it's own.....I've never seen a young possum around me without it's mother by it's side.

He/she is old enough. Cute too.

Bingo and I flushed a bunch of quail on our walk today. I've never seen one much less a whole flock. It looked like there were 30 of them. They went up all at once.

I would have loved to have seen that.

It was frightening at first. Now I know why horses spook when birds fly up.

Today's sighting was a skink on the porch. I was watering the plants, and he wiggled out from one of the little wheel platforms that holds the big pots. I guess I disturbed him terribly. He gave me a LOOK.

Hard to imagine that look from a skink.......

Spotted several red tailed hawks teaching their youngsters how to hunt by the highway yesterday.

Hey if you want a heart stopping moment with horses and birds put up a wild turkey.

We have a flock of them in our pastures. They come marching in a line in the evenings gobbling like crazy. You'd think the horses would be used to it, and they are -- until they have a rider with them. Then, they're SURE those turkeys are out to get them.

I know. I don't think at that point you can get a deep enough seat.

My seat is usually deeply buried in the mud by the time I realize what happened.

We have wild turkeys here too. I'm sure the people up the street from the library have had horsie/turkey encounters quite often. Their pasture is right up against the forest preserve boundary.

I keep forgetting to tell you all: we've had a cougar sighting! And it was only about 4-5 miles from where I live. It's possible it's just passing through like last years black bear.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/cougar-sighting-reported-in-beloit-park-b99549298z1-320471132.html
http://www.wkow.com/story/29687897/2015/08/01/possible-cougar-spotted-in-beloit-park

Yikes! We get black bears a lot, but no cougars. I don't know what will happen with the coyotes. I kind of hope the bears take care of a few of them.

Pretty cool, Fif. The bears may, they are apex predators. I have a teen age possum showing up at night. I've named him/her Walt. Understand I have four names for possums, Walt, Kelley, Pogo and Simon.

Heehee! Walt, Kelley and Pogo. Simon?

I saw a bunny hopping quickly under the barn. There's a bunny hole on the side now. I'd try to move them, but I don't really see a reason to. They aren't tunneling. They're just sheltering. It will be nice and warm in the winter since the hole is under the south wall.

Simon is the possum in the Mrs. Murphy books.

Oh!

Never heard of Simon before.
No further reports on the cougar, but that sign is still up at the entrances to the park so who knows?

Simon was back last night. This is an adult possum. Simon is a character from the Mrs. Murphy novels.

Can't say as I've ever heard of her either.
Baby hummers seem to be everywhere here.....

They were written by Rita Mae Brown.

My sis told us a couple days ago that a neighbor down the street from her who also has a yorkie heard a yelp and saw the south end of a coyote taking off with her dog. Snatched him right out of his own back yard. A different neighbor found him a little while later a few blocks away, badly injured and nearly dead. So many wounds, tears, bite marks....poor dog. The vet had to do emergency surgery to repair the damage but he will recover. Not so sure about his peoples wallet......Pretty sure he will not be too thrilled to be outside for any reason from now on and who could blame him?

NOW my sis takes our repeated warnings to her about keeping closer tabs on Maggie while in the yard seriously.

They are really a problem. They are a big problem around White Rock Lake.

My brother in law has seen them in Chicago -- in the city. It's open season on them around here. You can shoot them whenever. I don't have a gun, bug sometimes...

We don't let the kitties stay outside at night, and I wish they would agree to stay inside all the time. I think Bingo does keep them away most of the time. But, I dread a confrontation.

Yeah, a confrontation could be really ugly.