Black flies, Butch, Fred, Maggie, and other tails

I've been pacing myself with my tenosynovitis in my foot. It is a repetitive strain injury on my upper foot, first done in 2011. Ice, rest, and a foot brace help manage it. Plus, TLC from hubby! Sitting on the back deck has been lovely. Finally, the mosquitos aren't active there on the deck. The blackflies are another story. I've oozing welts on my arms. You don't feel them land, and they are horribly itchy. You don't even realize they are there. 

🐻 Hunting Seasons  🦃 

I did go to the back 40, to the duck nesting box Saturday morning, wrapped up with bug spray on. While there, I heard the neighbour hunting. Apparently, it is bear (May 1 - June 15) and turkey (Apr. 25 - May 31) season. I like to know, as it prepares me. There are turkey hunting requirements in Ontario: you can't bait them, or call them. They are required to have a licence, and report their kills. Our new neighbour was out hunting Saturday morning and I heard 3 shots. He proudly posted the photo, offering his outfitting services. I worry about Black bear hunting season, as I enjoyed seeing our black bear on the camera. 

The lilac bush is amazing for action. As I sat on the deck, the robins landed in the bush, as well as the phoebes and the hummingbirds.  Lately, I've noticed two female cardinals in the tree. One chased the robin awa. The robins are busy shoving food into hungry mouths. A female cardinal came by and chased them away.

I've done some work on the front garden. Funny story, I spray painted my garden fencing. It is a barrier to keep my lilies in the garden, as they fall over. I spray paint them just for fun. I leaned them up on the fence. Thing is, I had a brain fade and reached to move them, and sort of forgot that they were wet. I scrubbed with the brush, and had trouble getting it out. I had to throw the brush out! Baby oil worked to get it off me, and time! 

There is Fred, watching me. You can see the remaining bed frames leaning up on the fence, this is my repurposed fence strategy. Placing the two rails I'll put up some string later. 

May 18th, I realized the wood ducks have taken up a nest into the box we'd moved. I accidentally flushed her, thinking it still empty, and she took off into the wetland, landing and taking off to safety.

  

Wood ducking from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Having set up the trailcam, I realized she is too fast for this camera. I may just monitor the action. 

 

That said, I wonder if Bear will find it. Butch raccoon certainly did. May 25-26, The wood duck is sitting on eggs in here. Butch raccoon knows it, I'll bet. I realized I'd have to tip the camera up a tad. Hit and miss! The baffles baffled Butch. 

Butch is busy from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Finally, Maggie magnolia has bloomed. The chicken wire protects the blossoms, sometimes. This one I'll leave alone, as it will break if I touch it. (I learned that last week!)

We think we've bumble bees who have moved into Fred's burrow under the deck. More on THAT action later! Have a wonderful day.

Saturday's Critters

 When did it get to be Saturday again?! We are taking great joy in watching our critters. I say 'our' as if we own them, but we are happy to watch them, watch over them, and share their antics. 

We've had an uptake in critters on the cameras, as they seek food, look for winter yards, and deer hunting season ramps up. Sadly, hunting season is here. When we lived in Muskoka we would all be very aware of the seasons and avoid walking on Crown Land. Here, I prepare just so I know what the guns are about. Our neighbour hunted, he's since sold, and we could hear it. We had our property properly marked so he'd know his boundary. 

Of course in Muskoka there was moose hunting. We don't get many moose here. We had to make a special trip to Algonquin Park for that.

First you figure out your Wildlife Management Unit on the  WMU map. We are 67. Then you go to the Deer season (Nov. 7 - 20 here). 

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

I hope you liked my chipmunk video yesterday. (I've never seen a chippie doggie digging!) Here are Clover and her boy.

 

clover and fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Wait until the end when the fawn bounds into view! We should have a name for the fawn, but once he grows a tad, we may not be able to ID him!

I'm thinking the baby porcupine has taken over Fred groundhog's den. Fred has disappeared, I haven't seen him in a few days or week. (You know how time passes!)  Josephine has named the baby porcupine (porcupette) Charlie! I like that. 

baby porcupine from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

↑ Oct 18 in the backyard. What is fun is that Clover and her fawn come into the yard. The fawn seems interested in the baby, but loses interest, happily! They all go back to grazing. The porcupine just ignores all of us!

↓ Just for comparison, this is the adult porcupine we saw in the front yard Aug. 20!

 

porcupine from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

And the tabby who visits us. 😼Oregano

 

oregano from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting! 

Saturday's Critters # 462

Senior found wounded near site of deer shooting

It is both hunting season and rutting season. Also, the deer are moving into their winter yards, where they congregate in the cold. SLow down on the roads, people!

I often complain about the noise of the OPP guns at the recertification range 500m across the wetlands of our backyard. This is a good reason to know they are certified.

They must hit their target, or there are serious consequences.

SIU investigating as senior found with possible gunshot wound after nearby police shoot injured deer

As rush hour was dying down Monday morning, police in Thornhill, north of Toronto, received a report of a “seriously injured deer” on the side of a road. Officers cordoned off a nearby intersection and then, using an undisclosed number of shots fired from an undisclosed firearm, they “put down” the animal.“Shortly after that, a 78-year-old man was found injured nearby,” read a Monday statement by the Special Investigations Unit, which is now leading a probe into the shooting.

Deer put out of its misery.

Grounds crew is here

It used to be the geese that nibbled our grass/clover. The grounds crew sure has changed as we changed our environment. Deer have a territory that includes forest and our grass/clovered lawn.

They watch Joey carefully!

I know they tell us we need not feed them until February when food is scarce, but we are happy to provide sanctuary on our acreage. They do not feed exclusively at the feeder. They rip away at the grass, nibble weeds, chomp on various garden plants, and cover a wide range of territory on our property, but seldom graze far. I have been up on the ladder working, turned around as I felt someone watching me!
Communication
They comunicate through smells, body language and sounds. Stamping to warn Oliver away, and snorting at other times. They are very wary, especially if they/we hear gun fire. Their ears are always directed towards sounds. They seem to understand the car noises and are less vigilant, if they aren't at the roadside. I have watched them from my front door as traffic slows, drivers honk, and cars scream to a stop.

FAWN in the middle!

Food and digestion
Our deer feed is a MNR-created recipe found at our local seed company. We put out black sunflower seed for the birds, cracked corn in the mix for the mourning doves and turkeys, as well as shelled peanuts for the woodpeckers, niger seed for the finches. It is well worth it to watch them! Deer eat acorns, nuts, aquatic vegetation (see our bog!), green plants, fruits, grasses, and nibble tree branches. They do not have incisors, but rip away at the greenery.

N. Ontario sign

They eat quickly, between 2 - 4 kg. (5 - 9 lbs.) per day, taking off to digest regurgitated food in their 4 (count 'em!) stomachs. They are able to digest cellulose, unlike the rest of us.

Strength, beauty and speed
Deer can jump over 2 metres high (8 feet), leap  9 m (30 '), and run up to nearly 60 km/h (36 mph). They swim, and I've seen a regular, worn deer path through our bog. They range between 45 and 136 kg. (100 - 300 lbs.) between the smaller does and larger bucks. I am amazed at their size, which is why there is night danger and much signage in Ontario.

Seasonal behaviour
 Our three are made up of two does, and a fawn, who is almost as big as her mother. I love watching mom groom her. I think there is a lone doe, but it is hard to tell! They pretty much look alike. In fall, the bucks are not eating much, as they are in rut. They secrete hormones, which mark their territory. In winter, deer gather in herds.

She's watching for Oliver!

The does hang out together in groups, as do the bucks, wth 3- 5 males together, all fighting for power. Once rutting season is over, winter comes and the bucks lose their antlers.

Visit Fallow Deer Reserve, and the article/photo to read more: Rut 101. She has a close up photo of her male!

Deer population

It seems that the deer population has diminished in Ontario. Hunters tell us that they go out and only see deer once in ten visits.

Alway watching, scouring the forest for predators.

Having watched our three cross the road, I can understand the danger they face. There was a mad season during which the MNR allowed hunters to cull the herds. As always, this normal balance of natural populations has had am impact.

 CBC radio news told us that the deer population has gone from 12 deer/km², to only 3.


Hunting regulations are not simple, for many reasons.

Ensure that you know the regs. in your area (Ontario).
The season is open here for two weeks, Nov. 1 - 14, but only bucks, with antlers, are allowed to be taken.

Hunt safely and know what lies beyond your immediate view.

Read, Muskoka Outdoors for more info.

Bill Anderson provides reminders for hunters:

• Bow hunters can still hunt at this time, but they need to wear hunter orange
• Ontario hunters can not use real deer urine products as scents and attractors
• There is a hunter orange requirement in Ontario

Looks like she's ready for show

To contact the Ontario MNR about hunting concerns or illegal hunting practices contact the MNR’s tip line: 1-877-TIPS-MNR (1-877-847-7667).

driving safety

Our OPP has sent out warnings to motorists. There is danger in that with moose hunting season wildlife is on the move. In a collision with a moose, we lost one of our finest in 2005. These animals are huge, and you do not always win since moose hunting season is on. Later in the month, once snow covers feeding grounds they have to forage and extend their territory.

One problem is the bright headlights of the vehicles, therefore, at dawn and dusk, when they are on the move, you really must drive more slowly.

Huntsville OPP say,

"There are a number of locations in the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment area where motorists are apt to encounter animals on the roads, including County Road 6, Highways 12, 93, 400 and area roadways that are adjacent to wooded areas."


They like to feed on the edge of a meadow, crossing convenient roadways to find more forage.

• Use eye lead time and be aware when you are in an area that has wildlife, especially if signs indicating animal crossing are posted;
• Do not overdrive your headlights; this will allow you to see an animal and stop in time to avoid hitting it;
• When animals are observed ahead, slow down until safely past them;
• Search for a second animal, close behind, after the first animal has been passed safely;