Deer in our Mountains!
We had a couple of visitors yesterday…a mama deer and her yearling fawn came by for a morning drink. Luckily, I was putting on the water for tea at just the right moment and caught them in action, right outside the kitchen window.
We have collection tanks for our gardening, and a couple of big horse troughs just for the critters. Critters being deer and bear, and hopefully, someday, elk! We’ve seen their prints and scat on our land, so we know they’re in the area.
We’ve had a dry winter…not a lot of snow, and what did accumulate was gone within a few hours. But somehow life goes on. In fact, there seem to be more jackrabbits and cottontails than I remember from last year. I saw a jackrabbit running across the road yesterday along with a couple of deer. Jackrabbits are elegant, long legged rabbits and look kind of deer-like themselves. They actually run, unlike their hopping cottontail cousins.
And the hummingbirds are back in force!
This morning I was watering the fruit trees we planted last autumn and the little hummers kept buzzing me. You’d think they’d have a little more respect for the goddess who keeps their feeders full of sugar water, but I suppose they think of me as just another part of the ecological system.
They are full of beans right now, busy with mating dances and nest building. I’ve counted at least 3 hummingbirds, but they move so fast that I’m pretty sure I’ve missed a few. The sugar water is going down in the feeders at a pretty good clip anyway. By Autumn (if last year was any indication) there will be at least twenty five of them.
And reptiles, Too!
I also saw our resident striped lizard (who likes to sun on the log in front of the house next to my husband’s small garden Buddha) dashing by a few days ago. I haven’t seen the horny toad yet, but I’m hoping he makes an appearance soon, and manages to stay safe from the cats.
Horned lizards (horny toads) do have a defense mechanism, kind of an interesting one. Have you heard of it? They can squirt blood from their eye sockets. Pretty sure the cats wouldn’t enjoy that much. Plus they are pretty spiky! I’m hoping the cats stay with hunting mice instead of lizards.
What wild animals are making an appearance where you Live?
Tell me what critters you’re noticing in your neck of the woods! You know me, I can’t get enough of animal stories!
Hi Merry- I love your newsletters! I live in NE North Carolina (just north of Outer Banks). The purple martins are back in force! Still waiting for black bear (I live near a bear refuge). My sheep are enjoying the Spring weather. Thanks again.
Hi Dr. Jill! So glad you are enjoying them – I love writing them! Glad your purple martins are back, and hope you see some bear soon! I haven’t seen any on our property lately. I think the noisy grandkids are keeping them at bay.
Hi Merry. I saw your post about the deer and hummers, aren’t they great! I live in the Phoenix area in the west valley. No one lives behind us, so we have avery lively hillside. We have seen coyotes, a family of javelina, and last night I discovered that our night hawks are back. There is so much to enjoy here, I love it.
OH, we have a lot in common, Paulette! I would LOVE to seer those javelina and night hawks. I have seen owls, but not sure if we have nighthawks. And of course we hear the coyotes singing, especially in the summer when our windows are open at night.
You are living my dream, oh, to be out in nature!! The only animals I see mostly are the human ones, here in Las Vegas (blech)…..lol…..hopefully one day, I can live out my life in the wilderness!! Although, I must admit, I do make an effort to visit and spend time riding/grooming horses. God bless you!
Well, after living in cities for most of our lives, we really planned this one out for several years! But it’s great you’re a horsewoman! I never learned to ride, sigh…At least in Las Vegas you are close to some beautiful, wild places.
Hi Merry – I wish I had a wildlife report for you. I only have hummers & purple martins to watch & neither have shown up yet. Your new place sounds like heaven on earth. Thanks for the update.
Dixie in San Antonio, Tx.
Oh, so glad you have those pretty birds to watch, Dixie! I’m sure they’ll be back soon to entertain you. We do love our place! I can hear the hummingbirds right outside the studio as I type this!
Hi – I do so enjoy your newsletters! I live in a semi-wooded suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, and several foxes have been sighted in our area recently. This was definitely new – and a little scary, because of the danger to dogs…
Hi Janie! Thanks so much for reading my newsletter and also for your comment. I do love fox, and hope they don’t end up posing any threat to your dogs. We have our own wild canines to worry about, coyotes. But the kitties are kept in at night!