A bit on the wild side.For the wildlife that we meet.

[crazyquilter]

I started this on our old SB den,so I would like to keep it going.Lets hear stories about the wildlife we see and come in contact with.

[crazyquilter]

We have a large covered porch in front of our house. The past few nights a group of praying mantis have been sitting by the chairs under the porch lights.
They are going after the bugs. I would like to know more about this little bugs so I will look on line.

[JanetC]

When I was on vacation we stayed with a friend of ours before we headed to the convention.  They live on a lake with 10 acres.  Everyday he feeds the wildlife.  He actually calls the deer up to eat.  This one let me take her pic: (I was about 5 feet away)

[crazyquilter]

Nice Picture Janet.

[kacyds]

Snapped this picture with my phone this morning, after dropping the kids off to school. This is only about a mile from the house.

[RossTO]

Since I live in the city I don't see too much wildlife and what I do see most people view as pests.

Just about an hour or two ago I had to help a poor raccoon out of the paper recycling bin for the apartment building. I guess he must have fallen in and as there wasn't much in there he couldn't get out. Opened up one of the lids and stuck a 2x4 in on an angle so that it could crawl out.

[Butterfly]

Time for a beaver update.  Here they are planning their next night move.

[Butterfly]

Mission accomplished!  Two ash trees gone.  Not a trace left, except for the stumps and a few shavings.

[JanetC]

I used to live near a lake that had a few streams running into it. Along those streams we would find signs of beaver such as the tree you are showing. They build some awesome dams too.

[Butterfly]

I can imagine them saying at this point.. "Three trees is enough for one day, it's getting light, we better just go."

[JanetC]

they will be back tonight for that one

[Butterfly]

The one they left behind (partially).

For those who like to keep count, it is now 3 ash trees (#4 maybe tomorrow?) 3 cherry trees and a katsura tree I had been babying along for 5+ years.
So the present score is beavers 7, butterflies 0.

[Philatarium]

Thank you for posting and sharing this, and I'm so sorry that you've sustained this kind of grand loss, especially of the young trees you've been nurturing.   

[Butterfly]

I'm really not that sorry. They are interesting creatures, I have a video of them grooming each other (dial-up prevents me from showing it). They are telling me that this is their stream, and I should butt out. I've also been planting lots of cherry and ash trees on the other side of the creek. In about 5-10 years they can have a feast. I'll be gone possibly, and someone as dumb as me will plant lots of new trees next to the creek, expecting to grow a forest.

[Philatarium]

Well, that seems like an unusually healthy attitude to take about a situation like this.

[crazyquilter]

My husband was in our backyard with our black lab (Coco) playing with a ball. My husband said Coco looked at the creek (which has trees and heavy bush on both sides) and started to growl. He looked at the creek and saw a doe just standing there watching them. That is the second time this month we have seen a deer in our neiborhood.

[Butterfly]

Beaver update: They are moving in, building a new house with a two-car garage.