Fawn's ankle, house fire, Richard deer

 🌨 I have so many stories about my critters. I appreciate those who follow me. It warms my heart on these cold, winter days (-7 C. on Thursday). It is safer staying at home for one's health and the weather. Speaking of weather, more snow.

😷I am watching the COVID/Omicron/Kraken reports. (CRIKEY!) Most of our cases are in congregational settings, which isn't surprising. There has been an uptake. We are masking in busier places, not so much on a quick run into a store. 

I found it interesting to compare COVID cases from last January (red) to this year (blue). I've been tracking the data, such as it is. What else can a retired math and computer teacher do! 

🥀The indoor plants are flourishing. With more snow falling this morning, it is heartwarming. The orchid cactus (far right) now has blooms. The 2nd amaryllis has also bloomed. 

The goldfish plant is covered in little, teeny goldfish blossoms.

Outside, a pop of colour. I've changed up the wreath. This one Isabelle and I made for Valentine's Day.

🔥There was bad new for a family near Perth. This lovely home had a fire Jan. 19th. It is so sad. The garage is a fairly new extension, you can see from the Google Map image. I feel so badly for them, not that I know them. Someone submitted photos of the fire, as it raged at 2:45 in the morning.  

The problem for our volunteer firefighters was getting water. The Perth crew called in crews from DNE, Tay Valley, Lanark Highlands, and South Sherbrooke stations. The homeowners were woken by smoke detectors (check yours!) and escaped safely. It takes several villages...

March, 2023

🐈 I write these stories in my head as I view, curate, edit, and post videos. Sadly, my brain is a bit distracted and my attention span is... Shiny things! Yesterday, I told the story about Cinnamon's latest walkies. I forgot the video showing him following me. He chose not to go with me to the trailcams the next day. I didn't blame him! He knows if it is too cold and he is free to go back to the house. 

Cinnamon walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

He likes to sit on the front deck and watch the action, for the most part. Yesterday morning we watched Labbit out front. She is nibbling lilac shoots. Both cats watched her from the chair on the deck. I filmed this from inside, through the front window. The cats were sitting on the front deck, on the chair, watching.

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cats came in, I went out, she stayed there when I went outside.

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'll leave you with Richard Deer. It won't be long before he drops his antlers.

2 bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The young buck was looking for Labbit, who likes the tree house for safety. For some reason Richard bolted just at the end. There was nothing more on the trailcam. I've seen him roaring around, running after a doe. He is a hoot.

Saturday's Critters

 Someone nearby posted an image of a bobcat on our local FB page, from their trailcam. JB spotted one years ago, as we were watching out the back for some reason. It is illusive, and knows to stay away from humans, and staying out of sight during the day. Bobcat attacks are virtually unknown.

It's been seen twice around the lake, hunting rabbits, hares, and rodents. They are said to be crepuscular, more active dusk and dawn. There was some confusion, between it being a lynx or bobcat, but in a fuzzy photo, you could see the bobbed tail! They are an apex predator. This is an image from Wiki! They are elusive.

California Bobcat
CC BY-SA 2.0, Wiki Link

Someone else has posted photos of about 2 dozen evening grosbeaks at their feeder. It is a busy ecosystem around here, despite rain, snow, wind, and graupel! (File photo!) We've another couple of days of rain.

These images are from Thursday. I used the monopod, and does it ever make a difference. Can you see the buck in the middle of the photo, on the hill? He chased a doe back there. The poor old white pine trees are a stark reminder of chores left to do. 

They were spooked when I went out on the back deck. 

Out front, I was having fun watching three red squirrels. This isn't a great photo, I had the zoom lens on, and sat it on the monopod. It's proof of 3, though! The snow provides much protection as they work their way under the feeders.

I love the snow falling from it as it emerged from its hole. I suppose this is protection from predators. I heard the Great Horned Owl the other day. We've hawks, too.

Friday morning I counted 9 deer in the backyard, and 3 at the front at the pumpkins.

2 big bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

One is Richard Deer, the other needs a handsome name, as well. 

The fawn with the wrecked leg is doing well, all things considered.

 

fawn ankle from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting! Saturday's Critters # 472