Showing posts with label scrapes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scrapes. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

The owl tree & deer scrapes

Sunday was busy, after finishing the wood Saturday. I cleaned the goldfish tank, did some floors, and played outside. (The latter was the best part! I know that all of you will agree.)

I walked back to the 'owl tree', you can see the white mute under it. One more pellet. 


I'd seen a buck out back Friday morning, his frozen hoof print in the path. 

Deer scrapes

First they scrape out a clear spot with their hooves, then they urinate on their tarsal and metatarsal glands to put their scent on the scrape. They also nudge the branches above to put scent there from their preorbital and nasal glands. From October to December they aggressively scrape as testosterone levels are high. Charlie Alsheimer has written a piece about this. He says there are three placements of scrapes: boundary, primary and random scrapes. This scrape is a primary one, I think, on a major trail all the critters use. 

This is last year's video by the frog pond. There was a scrape back there. I think that means we have 5 scrapes on the property. I hope we have little fawns come spring.


The squirrel is up to its old tricks. It didn't figure this out until later in the bird feeder year. Can you see it on the tray feeder?


This is from last spring. It remembered the whole deal. What can I do?! Squirrel won.



I wrapped the rose bush. It made a difference in terms of blooms last year. I wrapped my new plants in the daffodil garden. 


While the deer are on the move, cottontail continues to hang about. I was reminded of the cat we had around the house. (Not ours!) I borrowed a trap and tried to capture it. It didn't dissuade bunny. She is back this year. I never did see the cat. 
March 23, 2024


I've been puttering around the yard. Remembrance Day symbols have been put away. Seasonal symbols are out. I think the drain spout is a nice touch beside it!

 

Thursday, 3 November 2016

Deer are on the move: slow down

a fine buck, 2015!
Do you think it is the same one?
Note the colour of the back of his legs.



I have to post my videos for hubby.
I was making dinner, gazing out the kitchen window, and spotted this buck. I called for JB to come and see. Dinner had to wait a moment or two.

This buck is such a stately beast. Just quietly marching around.
They are in rutting season, and don't hang out together. They will soon.
It is hunting season, too.

More deer tails and Whitetail Savvy <= I posted more about this here.

hunting &
rutting seasons
Justin Hoffman, my photographer friend, taught me about deer scrapes. I took a walk to look. To spread their scent, they make a scrape in the ground, urinate on their inner-knee hormone glands (tarsal glands), to spread their hormones and mark their territory. Then, they rub their faces on the overhanging branch to similarly place their scent.


There is lots of deer food still out there: the grass is green in spots, some leaves are on the lilacs and serviceberry. They are just checking things out, just in case.



 
King of the forest from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Deer selfies! These are momma's twins. I set up this trailcam facing the tree house and backyard shed. I chucked some broken up pumpkin in the trough, but they aren't hungry enough to eat them.
Deer selfie from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.