Fred incident June 6th

The Freds continue to hang around. After momma led them away (teenagers: move out, find your own shelter?), they dispersed to four burrows. Two hang out together. Then they don't. Wed., Jun 10th, I could Momma at the shed burrow. Three kits were grazing in the wet grass. We had 14mm rain. About a half inch. 

She was unusually vigilant:

 

 More whistling.

   

 She led them to the septic bed burrow.

   

 I realized later that a coyote had taken a kit.

   

 This miniFred shadowed her.

 

UPDATE: on the released squirrels...

Our pregnant doe has been stealing the squirrel food! I laughed so hard. I didn't realize the squirrels came out at night. You can see the doe's eye reflecting the trailcam light, and a squirrel on top of the nest box, watching the doe. I thought squirrels were diurnal. Who knew?! 

We have to provide food and water for about a week, until they learn to forage.

We continue to get raccoons ambling by. I was reading in bed, Muskoka room door open, and heard one on the back deck. There was nothing it could get into, though. This one, with the skinny tail, has been out. It fished out some stones I had in a container. They rattled. It held paperwhites in the winter. 

And a fun one, a large male bear on the driveway. Video on Saturday's Critters!

Freds June 5th: escape!

 Yesterday was my report on the squirrel release. They are doing well. Meantime, I'm behind on the Freds, who have settled back in under the lower deck. Until they weren't!

Picture the two of us watching them from above. They are fascinating.

On the trailcam, I found Momma Fred leading them down the garden path driveway. Not a good thing. 

Later, I was watering the front garden, and spotted a miniFred on the driveway. It ran towards us, into the back yard, and went under the back deck. Hmmm. 

 

Joe was on his way to town for errands, I was putting the hose away. Another miniFred was on the driveway! I asked him to put the car back in the garage. The trick in herding groundhogs (or cats) is to get behind them, not approach. I was worried that it'd run away, or towards the highway.

Here I am, trying to videotape. Yes, in my housecoat and nightie!

 

He stood right in the way, so Fred deked into the garage.

I encouraged Freddie to leave the garage, since Joe Brian needed to get the car out.

Things settled down... until they didn't! 

Crumbly Acres Squirrel Release

 Sunday, June 7th, we went to the wildlife sanctuary Open House. Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (RVWS) was giving tours. We jumped at the chance. We donate monthly to this group. They do amazing work.

They sent an email, letting us know they had 3 orphaned squirrels that needed to be released. Could we help? They were having trouble finding a willing host for a release location. We jumped at the chance to make a small difference to 3 little orphaned rodents. We did this for #75, May, 2025, and he is doing well. Crumbly Acres Rehab: #75. 

They have a lot of predators. Coyotes and Barred owls, for example. I dissected an owl pellet in 2017, and found the black fur of a black squirrel! 

Crumbly Acres Rehab: #75, 2025.

We had a tour of the different rooms, with volunteers and staff feeding orphaned animals patiently with milk in syringes. The kits grab their hands and eat for dear life. No photos, as a flash could be disturbing. 

There were raccoons babies, groundhogs, bats, gray, red and black squirrels.

Lots of food and fun. They were bussing people in from the road, but since we were picking up the critters, we were granted permission to park at the facility. We don't do well in crowds. 

Some, with better constitutions walked back to their cars.  

Home we went.

They were quite quiet on the way home. I took a break for lunch, and a change of clothes. Taking the ladder, I got it ready, while going back for the drill and the camera. Joe was my personal assistant.

I did not get it up to the 10' up they recommend, tough for old farts. On the balls of my feet, balancing on the ladder, holding the nest box and the drill. It is a balancing act.

Joe put down water and some of the bird seed they sent us home with. I rested on my laurels. 

After an hour and a half, they were exploring their new tree. 

The squirrels did fine. I think they were practicing, up and down the tree for awhile. 

I think one left, and another a little bit later. I visited in the morning, and all was quiet. We shall see what happens. 

A busy weekend in a small town

 1. Perth Market – Saturday: 8 - 1, Joe had to go early to miss cycling traffic. The cyclists come right down our highway. He got us Korean dinners from Jinny. 

2. Rideau Lakes Cycling tour – June 6 / 7  leaving Perth at 8:30 a.m. They go to Kingston, about 200 km, and come back Sunday.  They aren't all the nicest people. They have maps, and since we were going to the RVWS Open House Sunday, and to pick up 3 orphaned squirrels, we checked into it. Rideau Lakes Cycling Tour 2024.

• RLCT-CLD1 2026 Classic Day 1
• RLCT-CLD2 2026 Classic Day 2

3. Perth Triathlon June 7th 7:30 a.m.

4. Perth PRIDE – Parade Sunset BLVD. 3:30 p.m.

5. Otty Lake Annual Meeting – June 7, 1 - 3 p.m.

6. Rideau Lakes Antique Car and Craft Show, in Lombardy June 6/7.

🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴 🚴

Rideau Lakes Cycling tour 

 

This dude didn't stop at the stop sign, and pulled right in front of the car when Joe and I were in town in 2016. 

We learned our lesson in 2016:
STAY OUT OF TOWN! 
Ottawa Bicycle Club.

🌈 PRIDE Month

Smiths Falls Police Service Press Release:

 "On the 28th of May 2026, Smiths Falls Police Service initiated an investigation into the hate related mischief at the Town Hall band stand and the Pride crosswalk at Beckwith St N and Church St W. Through assistance of security surveillance footage, investigating officers were able to identify 4 suspects."

🐿️ Sunday, we went to our local wildlife sanctuary Open House. RVWS was giving tours. We jumped at the chance. They sent an email, letting us know they had 3 orphaned squirrels that needed to be released. They were having trouble finding a spot. We jumped at the chance to make a small difference to 3 little rodents. We did this for #75 and he is doing well.

I'll post more once I curate the photos! Joe Brian is in charge of food and water. He handed me my drill as I was atop the ladder. It wore me out. I had to take a seat. 

Freds and owls, June 3 & 4

We are moving into summer. Inching slowly... The horse chestnut tree is in full bloom. Bees abuzzing!

Wed., June 3rd

 After thinking it was very, very quiet, our groundhog family, AKA the Freds, spent the afternoon under the lower deck. They came back from the other burrow. Cinnamon was quite keen. They seem to have a healthy respect for one another. Cinnamon is curious, and a watcher and a thinker! 😏

Momma moved back from the other burrow June 2nd:

Cuteness abounds. They are weaned, and independent. Still, they gather. It seems as if one of them shadows the mother. The others move in a trio.

I had a nice afternoon watching them while I put my feet up.

 

 

 It's like Whack-a-mole, as they pop up. The lower deck burrow (#3) has 4 entrance/exits!

 

June 4th – I came back from viewing the owls, they were singing to one another, and miniFreds were watching me!

The Barred owls... sound up, you can't see them. I was totally curious. I had to go look for them.

 

It moved abruptly...

Then flew over my head. I imagine they have an owlet with them. They've been flying around the wetland for days.