Monday 2 January 2023

Richard Deer, Little Richard, Mice Friends

 I read a book called The Forest. I found it an interesting depiction of how society changed in the life of a UK forest over 900 years. We've been watching an Amazon TV series: Sherwood, set in Scotland in 1984. It is a depiction of the UK Miners' Strike, based on two actual murders, and I looked up some information. The forest is amazing in this series. 

Critters on the trailcams have been scarce, aside from our deer friends.  They were sheltering under the large pines trees when I looked out back at 6 a.m., rain pouring down in the fog. This was Friday, Dec. 30th. It turns out our biggest buck, Richard Deer, has a hurt! It doesn't look infected, so I am hopeful he'll last until another deer hunt next year.

We can identify the bucks by the shapes of their antlers, which remain mostly the same over their lifetimes. Richard has a split on his right antler tip, that is a great identification trick. One of the triplets has lost one antler. The timing all depends upon food sources, and energy demands, which reduce their hormones. They will all lose them soon, and regrow them in spring.



You can see my problem (below)! I was on my tiptoes, trying to focus through the kitchen window, but had forgotten my reading glasses. I am resisting the urge to cut this serviceberry tree down. With the monopod and zoom lens, photos are easier, but the tree is a pain.



It occurred to me that we've two older bucks as I looked out the window. I say older, since their age range is 2 - 5 years. There are lots of hunters around us, lots of roadkill with speeding cars. In captivity, heaven forbid, they can live for 23 years I've read. Each year they add an antler points on each side, more or less.


 I think we should call this 8-point buck, Little Richard! Little Richard knows his place and defers. The big one, Richard Deer (a 10-point buck), was giving the other one the eye.
Two bucks📹

The rain was ridiculous! We've had another Colorado Low. A skiff of snow Sunday night.


Remember little bunny's hole? It belonged to Fred Groundhog, who scarpered. It appears flooded. Poor thing must have moved somewhere, unless Fred Groundhog dug a proper tunnel.



We have mice friends, no question about it. I posted my earlier video of mice friends in the Facebook group for trailcams, and got a bit of advice. Some pointed out that mice carry disease. Others like the fact that I called them my friends. That arises from the fact that Caitlin invented 'Mice Friends' who lived above the kitchen ceiling tiles, back 35 years ago when we lived in Ottawa. There are few indoors. You can see why.

This went on for hours! The feeder above is great TV for the cats. The mice clean up the mess.

mice friends from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I finally did another picture. I've missed drawing, I just haven't been in the right head space for it.

14 comments:

Tom said...

...WOW, what a rack!

Anvilcloud said...

Sherwood was pretty good.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
The drawing is instantly recognisable! Oh, but Jenn... Sherwood (as in forest) is in Nottingham, ENGLAND. Nothing to do with Scotland. Jus' sayin'. YAM xx

Barbara Rogers said...

Good for you getting creative on paper. It's an excellent process. When I was very young I saved a mouse from my cat. He died anyway. My mom was a Christian Scientist, which meant denial of diseases! So even though she knew that mouse probably was Interesting memory you've brought up.

RedPat said...

I didn't know the antlers grew an additional point each year.

DrumMajor said...

You're very observant with the details on the animals. Charming how kitty is overseeing the mouse. Stay warm! Linda in Kansas

Divers and Sundry said...

My new neighbor is cutting down the lovely dogwood that's at the fence we share, and I've been considering aerviceberry as an addition on my side. I've heard the birds love them.

Your deer are always fun to see the photos of, and it's interesting to hear how you can identify the individuals.

Jenn Jilks said...

I knew that, YAM! I just found the forest information interesting! Feudal times vs. modern day, and coal mines. The forest features heavily in the TV series.

Elephant's Child said...

I love that you recognise individual animals.

William Kendall said...

The deer are a delight to see.

Kay said...

I think it's amazing that the antlers are shed each year and they grow bigger each year too.

Lorrie said...

Always interesting to see what's happening around your place. Love the drawing - I'm hoping to exercise my creativity more in the days to come.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Love your trailcams. I fired mine up again. Starting out with just photos cuz reviewing and editing video is just drudgery.

Gill - That British Woman said...

that is so lovely being able to see all that wildlife up close and personal.