Nature & Wildlife Thread

[callingcolleen1]

I was down by the river the other day and the coyotes are back!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Turkeys are about the most exciting thing around here. Sometimes I'll hear coyotes in nearby farm fields but I've only ever seen 1 around here. Deer are almost as hard to find. and a small family of turkeys appeared out of nowhere about 2 years ago and seem to be breeding in the area now. I've seen them a few times but see their prints or feathers more than them. We, of course, also get the typical raccoons, opossums, and skunks.

Up in Northern Wisconsin is where the bears, bobcats, and wolves are. I've never seen any of them and never even been in their range. There's also the occasional moose or mountain lion that wanders into Wisconsin likely from the Dakotas or Minnesota.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I have had 3 close encounters with black bears.


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I came across 2 cubs one day, a mile or so back in the woods. I could here mama growling fiercely, in the bushes close by. She continued to do so, until I was a few hundred yards away. I was gad she didn't charge.
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A friend of mine were in the same area. It was during blackberry season. He was up the hill a 100 yds from me. A fairly small bear came charging down the hill It must have been doing over 30 mph. It brushed up against me at that speed. I am not sure he even saw me. They have poor eyesight.
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I was doing some work for a lady who owned a 150 acre farm. She just had beef cattle. There was no one around but me. All of a sudden, all the cows went crashing through the barbed wire fence. I went on the other side of the fence to investigate. Then, they all came crashing back through the fence, into the pasture. The largest bear I have ever seen, came walking right towards me. He must have weighed over 400 pounds. He stopped 20 feet from me. My truck was over 100 yds away. I turned around and started to walk towards my truck. Then, I heard a lot of crashing. I had to turn back to see if this was the end. He went just into the woods, along a stone wall, and walked parallel to me, all the way to my truck I was so happy to reach the door handle of my truck.
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.I also had a close encounter with a large bull moose.
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He weighed about 2000 pounds. Again, it was way back in the woods, alone. He stayed about 20 feet away for about 45 minutes. Much less scary than the bear encounters. I just stayed behind a tree. After a while, I started talking to it. (lol) Finally, he left, ripping small tree tops off and eating them.

 

[j.w]

What no gators addy?

 

[j.w]

@Mike in Vermont that's a bit too much drama and close encounters of the bear kind for me IMHO

 

[addy1]

What no gators addy?

lol yep gators but not visiting our yard! I just listed what we see out in the grass and bushes

 

[addy1]

@Mike in Vermont that's a bit too much drama and close encounters of the bear kind for me IMHO

That would have scared the poo out of me!

 

[j.w]

 

[Mike in Vermont]

A fairly large owl was looking for breakfast by the pond this morning. Does anyone know what kind he is?

 

[addy1]

Looks like a barn owl, nice visitor.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A fairly large owl was looking for breakfast by the pond this morning. Does anyone know what kind he is?

Not familiar with owl species in your area but I'd say it looks like a Barred Owl

 

[addy1]

Not familiar with owl species in your area but I'd say it looks like a Barred Owl

I think you are right, more like a barred than a barn ow.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

Thanks addy and JB. I saw it this summer in the woods. The dog and I like to take a lot of walks. I hear it hoot on occasion. Sometimes, II hear an answer too. I love owls. I just don't know much about them. lol

 

[j.w]

We used to have a white owl at our old place in Everett. We had an acre of woods there and I used to love hearing and seeing that bird in the dark of night. Reminds me of a long dark walk in the woods in a scary spooky movie

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I hear it hoot on occasion. Sometimes, II hear an answer too. I love owls. I just don't know much about them. lol

I live near a patch of woods that has a few Great Horned Owls living in it. I occasionally hear them calling late at night. I love the sound. It reminds me of camping, and the great outdoors in general.