Saturday, June 28, 2014

Critters in the Yard

Another aspect of the seasons in late June and into July is the number of animal critters we see around the yard, just enjoying the banquet of fresh grass, clover, and sometimes flowers or veggies we grow for them.

This contented looking Cottontail was sitting five feet off our back deck the other night.  Luckily he was eating the weeds there where we're planning some new landscaping.  I was able to slowly raise the window to get the picture from the house.

And I saw him again this evening when I was out weeding, at least I presume it's the same one.  I just hope he stays out of the veggies garden.

And straight out the front door, this fat groundhog enjoys munching on the grass.  He rarely seems to go far from the burrow, so I think he's safe just eating grass.

He dashes away underground while our dog sits and looks at the curious creature!

As for the chipmunks, they're a different story.  This one is safe, sitting on a boulder in the old fencerow where  they have dozens of boulders to hide under.  But we draw the line when they head for the house and live under the front porch.  I've trapped five this week, and helped them emigrate from the neighbourhood to more natural surroundings!

This one is definitely not in the yard, but a couple of weeks ago driving home we saw a dark animal swimming in a pond.  We stopped to watch, and by the time we saw the large tail, we figured it was a beaver!

Then it climbed out on the shore a few yards, stood up on it's hind legs, and chewed off a branch.  Not a good picture, but the best I've got.

By the time it swam back out on the pond carrying the small willow branch, we knew we were right.  We've never seen a beaver this far south in Ontario, though we know they're around.

Linking to:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/

14 comments:

  1. I see quite a bit of groundhogs this time of year. They're skittish at times, but interesting to watch.

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  2. We are delighted to have a rabbit living in our back yard. If it nibbles on the flowers a little it's a small price to pay for the pleasure it brings.

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  3. We've been having a bit of trouble with chipmunks living under our deck too. We've trapped two of them so far. They eat the seeds out of the bird feeder too.

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  4. It must be lovely having these critters living so close that you get to see them often. All your shots are great and it certainly was amazing to see the Beaver. Have a great weekend.

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  5. Wonderful shots of the cute critters.

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  6. What a great variety of critters. I love the cute bunnies! And your groundhog looks a little chunky.. What is the dark animal the beaver? Do you have bears there too? Great shots! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post with Saturday's Critters.. Have a happy day!

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  7. It's curious but though I've often heard groundhogs mentioned I've never seen a picture of one before. I think I can see why - they're not exactly photogenic, are they? Thanks for broadening my natural history knowledge.

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  8. You must have been very quiet to be able to take pictures of a beaver. There is one trying to block a culvert next door. Every day a neighbour reopens the culvert, every night the beaver plugs it up. I am sure I know who is going to give up first!

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  9. You have an interesting variety of critters in your yard. Yes, some of them can be nuisance and as you say need to find another neighborhood.

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  10. what a bunch of cuties!! i like the bunnies, mine have been very busy, reproducing under my deck!!!

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  11. The little bunny is so cute. The groundhogs manage to do a lot of damage to the plants here.

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  12. I like the bunny but that ground hog looks nasty, he would not last long around here. Chance had dispatched all the Chippies already:)

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  13. Hmmm. How do you keep the groundhog from treating your garden as his own private salad bar?

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    Replies
    1. So far he seems content with the grass and clover, but the deer and rabbits make up for it in the garden.

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