Here's what I saw this week during a Second Look.
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| The deer have been spending the winter mostly in the lower part of the yard. However, I expect that to change once our bedding plants start budding and there's a lot of tasty things to eat close to the house. |
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| There are no signs that any of these burrow entrances have been used recently. I guess the groundhogs think it's still too cold to come out. |
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| Most of the snow had melted, but I found these rabbit tracks in some that was left. |
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| The rabbit prints were leading up to this den. We have collected a huge pile sticks that several animals have made their home. |
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| A bigger perspective on our stick pile habitat. There are two major entrances--one below that was in the above picture and one a couple of feet above. I have imagined all kinds of animals living here, but have actually only seen rabbits around. |
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| It wouldn't be a winter walk in the yard without finding a bone. I don't know what this is but my best guess is part of a groundhog skull. |
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| This is another place that an animal/bird has been keeping warm this winter. The bottom of the hole is filled with leaves and grass. |
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| The next day the rain and snow returned and I did most of my looking out the window where I saw a female cardinal, a chickadee, and a male downy woodpecker. |
That pile of sticks has become a critter condo complex!
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar pile of sticks at the back of the property. But we don't get as many cute animals out there. I've always suspected that's where the rats hang out in winter.
Oh, no. Do you have rats, Lili? We have lots of field mice that like to come inside during the cold weather, but I haven't seen any rats since I lived in New Orleans.
DeleteDo the deer eat all your plants? They are beautiful but they can munch on things you don't want them to! Love the picture with the birds.
ReplyDeleteYes, the deer eat most everything. That's why I'm not as enthusiastic about gardening as I used to be.
DeleteI love seeing the pictures of the deer - they seem so exotic to me :)
ReplyDeleteI love these posts! Can't believe you have so much wildlife right in your own backyard! Squirrels, skunks and the occasional raccoon, fox or coyote are all that venture into my neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteCatMan and I went for a long bike ride today up one of the side creeks that we haven't frequented in a while because of snow and ice. The beavers had been busy... there was an enormous pond where there used to be only a small stream! Didn't get to catch a glimpse of the critters themselves though.
I would see more wildlife if I went out at night. Neighbors, who walk their dogs at night, tell me about all that they see. Supposedly there is a coyote in the neighborhood, but I haven't seen it yet.
DeleteAlso, there is a beaver dam near my sisters house that I find fascinating. They really do have to be busy beavers to build what I see. :)