Barry beaver update

 What a season! I am glad Winter is done.

It was cold on Sunday, and the little crocus just fell over!

While many in our province are dealing with flooding, Barry is happy to have sanctuary in our deeper wetland ecosystem. 

In the fall, back before a winter sleep, Barry beaver chopped down this tree and the one behind it! I snapped photos in the snow, which has melted.

It lay in the snow for months. 

I ambled down to check trailcams, and the top of the tree has disappeared!

Good thing we have more Aspens!

I noticed he'd brought some mud up onto the edge of the wetland. 

Here is a wary Barry out in the dark gathering more food,

We've taken a few steps backward in terms of weather. It's a tad cold, at -2 ℃ this morning. I managed some yard work yesterday, but it was cold!

What a day it was!

 Saturday was an amazing day. It was like summer at 25℃, just balmy.

Our snow is all gone!

Daffodils are coming up.

We got lots done. The water fountain attracts all sorts of critters. This dock spider was hanging out under the tarp. It disappeared.

The phoebes are making a nest in the same spot. There seems to be a construction issue! 

I threw the old one on the ground. It was a bit of a mess. 

I was looking out over the old veggie garden spot, and spotted the first garter snake of the season. I was too slow to get too close: archive photo! They are great bug eaters...

They hibernate in old mouse holes and such, under the rocks until it warms up.

We've dismantled the veggie garden. I didn't have the back for it. There is a pine tree growing!

Both water barrels are set up. Mind you, as I write this Sunday morning it is snowing. 😖😕 It won't stick around in April.

The daffodils are coming along out front.

I washed all this plastic containers. There are 12 of them from over the winter. Someone always picks them up. They are useful for people! 

 These sweet little things are all over the front lawn. I know they are invasive, but so am I!

Scilla luciliae

Spring means rain!

First, to answer Barb's question: " Will they nest in a tree, or do they need a box?"

They do nest in trees, but I have two nest boxes on the property. People on the lake have installed nest boxes, and taken some of my customers! That's okay, I've lots of photos and we want them to survive.

 Friday was an amazing day. I got so much done outside after days of cool, cold, and intermittent or heavy rains!

#75 was soaked!

The coyotes took down a fawn. The crows are gathering its fur from time-to-time. They don't like me watching them. Clever birds.

I'm keeping an eye on Barry Beaver's work. The water is high, which bodes well for his lodges and wetland protection.

Our heavy rains means Barry Beaver has a safe place to hide, in the wetland.

Aren't they precious?!

I managed to get the water fountain going. It's a miracle. It may be too early, with an overnight low of -4 ℃, but if it keep moving that'll keep it going. When I unwrapped it, it was full of snow water. I shall have to remember to cover it a little better next winter. (Non-mental note!)

I was ready for a shower and jammies after!

Butch raccoon

I don't have a conclusion for our ill raccoon. I have to process it all. Short story, it appeared, slept in the wood shed, and it left in the night. 

April 13th

We spotted Butch raccoon wandering around. It didn't look quite right to me.

 

 It came right up to me, which was worrisome. It wasn't aggressive, which was good. 

  

This is not normal behaviour! It wasn't aggressive, so it isn't rabies. We don't have too much rabies around here in the wild.

It settled itself in the shed. I was curious.  

MiniFred wasn't amused. She began whistling, her warning signal. (They are called Whistlepigs in some places!)

After dinner, down I went to check it out. Curled up in the wood shed, it was asleep. I was worried it was dead, but I could see its chest gently rising and falling. The next morning it was gone.

 

I cleverly put a trailcam on the chair, facing Fred's burrow. Sadly, I had no useable footage. The wind knocked it over.

I'm wrong. There is lots of useable footage, but trees blowing in the wind lose their appeal after 700 videos!

Joe Brian did some research. He thought it might be Distemper. Dogs and cats are given inoculations against distemper. Our cats are up to date on their shots. 

 

I emailed our Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (RVWS), sending them the photos and videos. They are busy with baby animals that are sick, lost, abandoned or injured. Their summer staff haven't begun. The universities are in exams. 

Kayley said she checked with ED Linda, and they thought Butch was too co-ordinated to have Distemper. Anyway, I went out the next morning, Tues., Apr. 14th, and it was gone. You'll recall, we all released a dozen raccoons back in mid-October. They have scattered. There seems to be a group of 3 and another group of six over the winter. 

RVWS said to call them if he returns and we will figure out what to do. 

Saturday's Critters # 644 for criitter fun.