Wildlife

​This property abounds with wildlife. Sometimes in the morning there are flocks of turkeys on the front “lawn”, and Steve has chased some deer away when he drove up the driveway. Neighbors have reported seeing the largest buck they’ve ever encountered out in the front pasture. Steve had to chase raccoons out of the cabin and there’s a groundhog hole in the bank behind the house.
I haven’t seen these animals myself, so this is all hearsay.
I often see eagles flying above, and I recently named one of the high spots in the ponds “Goose Island” because there are so many noisy nesters there. Frogs are everywhere, as are garter snakes (hopefully that’s the only kind – I don’t mind them). We found the skull of a weasel or martin, and I hear splashes on the creek when I approach, but mostly I have only observed the evidence of the mammals.
Turkey “dustings” in the woods are common, animal (otter?) slides fringe the creek banks, and the deer tracks surround the cabin. Further evidence of deer is the chewed-up trees we planted last fall. Should we protect deer-resistant cedars from deer? It seems so. And I don’t even want to think about the critter that clawed into this tree.

Winter is the best time for tracking, of course. After a fresh snowfall, it’s wondrous to see who is out and about, from the smallest mouse to the largest buck. I plan to install some trail cameras and find out who is out there. Better yet, I just need to sit and watch. I  know where there is an intersection.

"Crossroads" Oil on Canvas, 9 x 12