Crumbly Acres Cottontails and Cervidae

 We made it to the dentist. I was a bit worried about impending snowfall or ice rain. Turns out it was just snow, and not until we returned home around 4. We'll have some clean up today! 

Not too much snow. And I spotted the slow plow driving by. We should be good.

Hoppy Cottontail

I've been watching Labbit. I'd forgotten we had two one winter (Jan. 14, 2022). They blend in with the garden rocks! 

I snapped a photo of these tracks. She used the same path (the driveway), coming and going. I liked the pattern. 

Down go her front paws, with the hind legs giving her the oomph. 

It was a Wordle word! Seriously?

Cervidae  – hoofed ruminant ungulate (AKA deer!)

Joe Brian has been watching this doe. He is calling her Lefty, as she has twisted her back left leg. Proof of life!

A great surprise Monday morning was to see a buck out the kitchen window. He's lost an antler. We had a big snow or I would have gone out to look for the shed antler. Usually they drop later in January, but it has been cold. Testosterone has been diminishing.

One year (Jan., 2014), I found five antlers. It was a really cold winter, and 5 bucks hung around, which was unusual. I weighed the antler.

457 grams

We don't often have the bucks, but here was Tigger on Jan. 15, 2018. The females stick together, for the most part. 

Then there was Jake, in Jan., 2017.

Back to the present. The fawn was nibbling at the evergreen needles. That's how they get snow on their foreheads!

I love this fawn. It reminds me of Tigger, back in the day. Tigger must be long gone. This one bounces around, looking for trouble. There is a hierarchy, and the older males are boss, then the older females. Everyone knows their place.

   

Forest walkies

 Non-mental Note: I noticed a lot of LDD moth egg casings. I'll have to take a spoon and some soapy water. I cannot do the whole 16 acres, but I can do some. This is my reminder. You can see the beige egg casings on the birch tree. The casings above the snow line will die. Let's hope.

Cinnamon and I went walkies. Well, actually I went out to the back, and whistled. He caught up with me. You can see how the wetland is frozen.

I noticed a tree that has been chewed by a porcupine. Cinnamon showed me! There is lots of poop under the tree!

The critters are hard on the trees. The yellow-bellied sapsucker was busy with this tree. It went right over. You can see all the distinct rows of holes.

It's a nice forest! Deep breath. The walking relieves the anxiety.

Sunday morning (yes, this is my day behind blog!), I noticed bunny tracks on the bottom of the deck steps. I kept looking. It seems as if it fell or jumped onto the goldfish pond, slid on the ice at one end, and managed to climb out.

She sits there as long as she can. The birds are smarter, though! She hasn't caught one.

Well, we had 8 cm snow overnight, with rain expected shortly and 8 C. temperatures. It's a mess. The driveway is done and I am wiped! More on that tomorrow!