Small Cabin

Small Cabin Forum
 - Forums - Register/Sign Up - Reply - Search - Statistics -

Small Cabin Forum / Nature / Local wildlife ...up close...
Author Message
orangetom1999
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 12:03 - Edited by: orangetom1999
Reply 


Local wildlife..up close

One of the older and bigger neighborhood cats comes over and chases my two outdoor cats away from their food...

So the other day...I stayed with the two outdoor cats when feeding them and sort of leaned across the trunk of my car and watched them as they fed..thus keeping the neighbor cat away.


Suddenly there was a great noise..a ruckus in the tree limbs over top of where I parked my truck next to my garage.

I looked up and there was a hawk which came down into the tree limbs to grab a squirrel. It was close enough sufficient for me to see the yellow/white on the underside of the Hawk's wings.

This happened very fast and with great noise before the Hawk got a good purchase and flew off with his meal.

I've seen plenty of Hawks around here..but never in action and up that close...very impressive.

Nature...wildlife in it's natural habitat.

I was speechless and impressed.



I had been getting a lot of debris on my truck from this tree for some time and after inspecting said debris in irritation realized it was squirrels dropping leaves and acorn husks after they were done with them.
I would blow off the debris with my leaf blower from time to time ...whenever I got ready to use my truck.

But I never thought it through far enough to realize that my displeasure/irritation with the squirrels was someone else's opportunity.

I will remember that experience ..up close and personal ..for a long time.


Orangetom

Not an Ishmaelite

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 13:08
Reply 


We have bald and golden eagles nesting near our cabin.

Watching them fly over our cabin is amazing.
It's neat hearing their calls.

The closest a eagle ever came to me was the first evening at camp with my 45 pound grand dog. The eagle hovered above our heads at about forty feet as we were sitting under the porch overhang.
I think the eagle was checking us out determining if it could grab Baxter for a meal.

I know they grab mountain goats in Alaska and drop them on rocks to kill them since they are too big to kill any other way.

We watched a bald eagle hunt a team of baby hooded mergansers in our bay this summer. Watched it swoop down and grab one for dinner.

We don't usually interfere with nature. One day my Husband was walking down our road and heard and saw a mother robin in a tree freaking out. He looked down and saw a small snake trying to swallow a baby robin. The snake had the robins foot in its mouth. So he saved the robin. The mother swooped down and grabbed her baby.

It is amazing what one can see if they just sit quietly and watch. Far to many people are losing the ability to just sit quietly without some type of technology surrounding them.

orangetom1999
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 13:56
Reply 


silverwaterlady,

As a general rule...I too do not interfere with nature unless it begins to trespass on my territory.

But this kind of feeding is what these animals do...regularly.

On occasion I will get an overabundance of raccoons moving into new territory and will thin them out but as a rule..I try not go go too far in this.
The little guys can get into all kinds of things with their climbing ability and dexterous hands.


It must be quite beautiful where you live or around your cabin....among nature.


Out of curiosity ...do you prefer silver or gold...are you more partial to one or the other.???


Thanks,
Orangetom

Not an Ishmaelite.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 14:35
Reply 


Bit of a different experience I've been wanting to discuss:

Last week going down the road a car was stopped in front of me, driver standing outside. As I slowly went around I saw the reason, a deer laying on it's stomach, head up in the air. Must have been a collision but no damage to the car and the deer looked like it had just sat down for a rest. Obviously it was not getting up for a reason. It's big eyes looked at me helplessly as I went by. Didn't know what to do so just kept going, other cars were stopping.

I'm not a hunter, not against it, my best friend is a world class hunter and I know many of you cabin folks are. Just never learned growing up. I do fish. And I eat meat, too much meat, and I know where it comes from. But looking at that poor deer, I just couldn't find the heart to hurt one. Different story if it was a big cat attacking me I suppose.

I guess I'm just a big softy.

Nate R
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 18:17
Reply 


You got it, Paulz. There is a part to hunting that is extremely emotional, almost spiritual. Having to consciously make the decision to end the animal's life taps into that.

On the other hand, I find I treat every part of that animal with more of a reverence than I do a hamburger that ends up on my plate from who knows where. There is, in a sense, a reward for being able to make that decision.

Obviously, the animal would rather just live. But, maybe it's better to be hunted than taken down and eaten alive? Nature can be harsh.

Fanman
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 19:00 - Edited by: Fanman
Reply 


Quoting: Nate R
There is a part to hunting that is extremely emotional, almost spiritual. Having to consciously make the decision to end the animal's life taps into that.


Yes... maybe that's why I almost always hunted alone rather than with other hunters who might share the same mindset. For me it was always a silent "forgive me, my brother" as I pulled the trigger or loosed the arrow.

It's been some years since I last hunted, just don't feel the need to at the moment, but there were some lean times when it made all the difference in how my family was able to eat.

This was last summer in the woods behind our cabin:
IMG_20180714_1247235.jpg
IMG_20180714_1247235.jpg


Borrego
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 21:18
Reply 


Here was the most amazing thing we've seen at our cabin......A trio of Bighorn Sheep (known as Borregos around here arrived at our cabin one morning...the dogs went crazy and we went out and snapped this pic.

Many people, even desert people, wait their whole lives to see one of these and never do...and we had 3 of them come by for a visit.....

Good post, OT!
IMG_3905.JPG
IMG_3905.JPG
IMG_3907.JPG
IMG_3907.JPG


Duckgun351
Member
# Posted: 9 Dec 2019 04:52
Reply 


I agree with Fanman. I hunt ,but I also conserve. Never take more than needed. Be thankful for what was just given you. When I harvest a animal I think it and God . Taking a life even a squirrel or a deer is still a life. It was sacrificed for me. I have 70 acres of woods. Loaded with wildlife. If abused my grandchildren are not going to get the enjoyment of it. Anyways here's a picture off cameras
SUNP2688.JPG
SUNP2688.JPG


Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 9 Dec 2019 09:37
Reply 


Hello all. We get lots of moose through here. This September, October it was a daily experience. Was great to see lots of twin calves this year. Seems 3 out of 4 cows had calves. The first thing we do when we walk outside is look for moose. So as our kids grew up when they walked out the door it was “ watch out for moose”. Our little dog ,half Jack Russel, has been stomped at least three times that I’m aware of.
I was working in the yard when this bull came through so I took some photos. Probably around 40” rack. They have to be over 50” to be legal.
When I take the life of an animal it is to feed my family. And I always say Thank You to the Good Lord and to the animals.
Moose stink eye
Moose stink eye
Here
Here
He
He
Comes
Comes


Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 9 Dec 2019 10:30
Reply 


This guy likes to come around in the winter and early spring... kind of a pet, right or wrong, looking for a handout. During the summer we rarely see him.

The deer are there all summer
Fox
Fox
Deer
Deer


hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2019 11:41
Reply 


I was walking through my woods to get to my hunting stand. I heard a flutter and looked up. About two feet over my head was a big canopy with two huge talons hanging down. A moment later and it snatched something from ground and took off. it was a great horned owl

I just recall that sight and thought two things.

1. Don't descend on my head
2. This must be what winged death looks like

The canopy with the wings open was huge. Whatever creature it captures must go into dark before it's snatched.

deercula
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2019 12:52 - Edited by: deercula
Reply 


..

deercula
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2019 12:56
Reply 


Close enough?
image.jpg
image.jpg


manny
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2019 17:20
Reply 


all i got

moneypitfeeder
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2019 19:16
Reply 


We don't get to see half of what I know lives around our cabin, the second we open the cabin, they all scatter! But we know they are around, we have the bear prints on the side of the cabin where they were trying to get at something, and I have some (sorry, terrible quality) pics of grouse, porcupine, and our resident bats. We leave several of the storm windows ajar, to give the bats a "bat house" on the windows. It is adorable to watch them wake up for the evening, stretching and yawning--from the inside of the cabin through glass, of course. I've also seen plenty of humming birds (no pics, just video). I haven't been able to get a pic of a deer up there, they can smell humans a mile away.
IMG_20190715_1110597.jpg
IMG_20190715_1110597.jpg
IMG_20190715_2039189.jpg
IMG_20190715_2039189.jpg
IMG_20160626_1335333.jpg
IMG_20160626_1335333.jpg
IMG_20160630_141250..jpg
IMG_20160630_141250..jpg


old243
Member
# Posted: 6 May 2020 08:55
Reply 


This is an old thread. Was to the bush yesterday. I encountered a male grouse . all fluffed up and strutting , his stuff. My ATV was sitting idling. Sounded like a grouse drumming. Got a good picture , but haven't figured out how to post it. Also the leeks (ramps) , will be ready for digging in another week. for folks that like them. old243

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 10 May 2020 12:28
Reply 


Have had lots of moose . Cut a bull moose out of our neighbors wire fence a couple weeks ago. Now we have a pregnant cow and the ornery confused last years calf that mama just kicked out wandering around. Mama seems to like the area right behind our house. My kids n me made a pond for my beautiful wife for mother’s day. The moose like to take it over and use it as a wallow. And it is amazing how the night before you are going to harvest your cabbage that you have been nurturing all summer. Some moose comes along and eats the top off them , all of them. Broccoli n such just disappear.
Our chessy keeps them from coming over the 5’ tall fence around the yard. Serves to keep the dogs n grandkids in . And moose out.
It’s that time of year when all the birds are twittapaited also. Love watching all the birds.
Get outside folks, enjoy life.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 10 May 2020 18:44 - Edited by: Nobadays
Reply 


Hummingbirds are coming back! We live in an area they summer kn. Not unusual to have 20-30 hummingbirds around our feeders every day.

Have to tell on my wife as well... so she has a fox that comes up several times a week and she feeds it right out if her hand. Two does showed up a few days ago and are hanging about. So last evening she feeds her fox and the two does come in pretty close. She comes back in and cuts an apple in half. I look out the window and she is holding out a piece of apple in each hand walking towards the does.... and here is her fox following her like a puppy! Funny! The deer ran away of course. But I'm not taking bets they will be eating apples from her hand before summer is over!
IMG_5219_crop_17_res.jpg
IMG_5219_crop_17_res.jpg


paulz
Member
# Posted: 14 May 2020 19:38
Reply 


Whatever this is, it took my led night light.
downloaded6372507067.jpg
downloaded6372507067.jpg


darz5150
Member
# Posted: 15 May 2020 00:17 - Edited by: darz5150
Reply 


Looks like a fox. Coyote maybe?
Coyote
Coyote


darz5150
Member
# Posted: 15 May 2020 01:00
Reply 


I may have posted this before. But this is Tod. One of the local owls that hang around constantly.
Tod by the outhouse
Tod by the outhouse


Your reply
Bold Style  Italic Style  Underlined Style  Thumbnail Image Link  Large Image Link  URL Link           :) ;) :-( :confused: More smilies...

» Username  » Password 
Only registered users can post here. Please enter your login/password details before posting a message, or register here first.