What Wildlife Near Your Home?

[Unperson 309]

I go to the bedroom window at dusk. There, near the sage bushes is a bunny. S/he is a frequent visitor as are the bunnies in the arroyo next to our home. Half a "block" down the road is a prairie dog colony. Squirrels are frequent visitors to our feeders in the tree along with the jays, juncos, robins, sparrows, pigeons, mourning doves and crows. Lizards warm themselves on the rock garden I created for them next to the flat water tray set out for them and for the birds to bathe in. We have heard coyotes up in the hills behind our home.

We are in paradise! Never in my life have I lived near so many wild critters! Five minutes drive takes us to a place where, yesterday, I found bear scat and coyote tracks, deer signs and more of the numerous bunnies... and squirrels! AND I saw hummingbirds and heard a redtail hawk!

What wildlife are near your place? Pictures?

309

[scarlet_owl]

1. I saw a fox the other day as I was driving by the

woods near my home. There are various birds, frogs, squirrels, and rabbits in my yard.

[Nite Owl]

2. We have deer that run across the

back yard and wild turkeys too. Lots of bunnies and a beaver that comes out around 6pm. A nest of robins in the eaves under the balcony over the deck. The babies are flying now and it was funny to watch them learn, they kept hitting the windows. They all survived and mom and dad (mostly) are taking care of them. We walk by them and eat out there and they don't seem to mind us. Lots of birds: fitches, cardinals and crows. Oh and owls.

[Syrinx]

3. rabbits, raccoons, possums, turkeys, hawks

And lots and lots of deer, which makes gardening a dubious proposition.

[salinen]

4. Deer

Elk, Owls, Hawks, Fox, Bobcat, Elephant seals, Whales, Snakes, Otters, Turtles, Turkeys, Eagles, Feral Pigs, Zebras, Udads, Coyotes, Racoons, Skunk, Squirrels, Rabbits, Mice, and water fowl.

[leftofthedial]

5. frigging stinking pain in the ass skunks

and somewhat less of a pain in the ass raccoons

an occasional fox

a handful of feral cats

a zillion birds

half a zillion squirrels

[KT2000]

6. Thanks for asking

In my yard, which I try to "maintain" as a wildlife sanctuary there are deer, racoons, skunks, some kind of muskrat, rarely a rabbit, a lone chipmunk, moles and mice.
Quail, pheasant, swallows, robins, rufus-sided tohee, house finches, gold finches, hawks, egrets, mallard ducks, Canada geese, blue jays, martens, a morning dove pair, chickadees.

In the area there are coyote and mink (someone had a farm and let them go many years ago)and foxes.

In the bay down the street there are seals, eagles, many seabirds and once there was a whale that followed his ill mother to the beach where she died. Some terrific people came down from Canada and coaxed him back into the open water. They stayed with him all night to make sure he was kept wet, safe and quiet until the tide was high enough.

I feel so lucky to be so near these wonderful creatures.

[medeak]

7. antelope, bighorn sheep (they're hangin on the wall)

deer, mountain goats....it's a man's paradise here. But wickedly cold in winter...hate to see varmits hungry then.

Thank gawd I talked husband into taking down the mountain lion mounted in office...(we have a mixed marriage politically)

[Radical Activist]

8. roaches

all around the small building in the grass and bushes. I really hate it.
Otherwise there are the typical birds and squirrels.

[HEyHEY]

9. Bears, (Grizzly and black), deer, moose, elk, bunnies, cougars, squirrels

Marmots, Mountain Sheep, beavers, wolverines, badgers, Mountain Goat, Bobcats, Racoons....the list goes on

[Blue-Jay]

10. No beavers?

Interesting.

:P

[HEyHEY]

13. Shit yes, I forgot - I actually got a pic of one not too long ago

[CanuckAmok]

16. They're hostile little pricks, aren't they?

How they ever got on the nickel is beyond me!

[HEyHEY]

17. HOw? They control the Unions - that's how!

[medeak]

14. we have beavers

and badgers....just too many to mention.

ranchers are all fired up about possiblity of wolves..but maybe they would limit coyote population....saved son when he was 2 from coyote...brazen little critters.

[Nevernose]

11. Pigeons

And in the spring, Mourning Doves.

If I go into the desert, there's coyotes, roadrunners, jackrabbits, buzzards, falcons, and about a thousand other cool things.

[CanuckAmok]

12. Deer, California Quail, Bald Eagles, ferrets, snakes, newts,

rabbits (black ones), ducks, and hummingbirds.

I don't know why the Bald Eagles and California Quail are here...it must be the exchange rate. I've yet to see their work-permits, too.

[WatchWhatISay]

15. I'm feeling a little guilty

because, 3 days ago I ran over a possum that has visited us many evenings since I moved to this house 11 years ago. He and several raccoons love our catfood. There are also many squirrels. And it is very common to see deer families around here, though I've never seen one on my street. Unfortunately they are also frequently killed when they run out in front of cars. I see lots of snakes, which I don't mind, except I dont like copperheads. And recently we have come across a couple of rats, which we have never seen in the past.

[frylock]

18. rattlesnakes..

I see one every week or so on my evening hikes, mostly the Red Diamond variety. Yesterday I walked up on a beautiful 18" Western Diamondback stretched out on the trail. Most of them are quite docile, though I would never be stupid enough to try and handle one!

I've a mental log of the places that I've encountered them this season, so I can be sure and keep my eyes peeled. I usually find names for them as well. My little friend from yesterday was dubbed Trey, as I found him next to the 3 mile marker of my hike. There is also Red Foreman, Grumpy, and a 5' Red I named Ben Hogan. I named him Ben Hogan because his ass was hanging out right around the bend of one of my favorite trails, so now I refer to that bend as Amen Corner, cuz I pray that I don't come across him again!!