add your winter wildlife pics in here

[savageactor7]

^ excellent Kenny.

 

[Kenny1]

Thanks savageactor7.

Saw geese heading north today, but didn't have my camera with me. First flock I've seen this year heading north. Spring must be comming....

 

[rdust]

A couple from around the yard.

 

[North of 60]

Thanks savageactor7.

Saw geese heading north today, but didn't have my camera with me. First flock I've seen this year heading north. Spring must be comming....

Tell them to take their time. -30C again this AM. Only -10 in the afternoons though.

 

[North of 60]

These pics are from last year but the deer are always around here every morning. My two boys will be glued to the window counting them. Nice photos you guys. Love those bright red birds.

 

[Shari]

This was yesterday - never saw a beaver out and about durning the winter before!

The beaver's wife sent him out saying "Doesn't it feel drafty in here, dear? We need more wood!"

We had 3 deer in our yard yesterday. I totally forgot to get the camera out as I was busy making sure our two 3 yr. old grand-daughters who were visiting got a good look at the deer.

Shari

 

[savageactor7]

Never knew we had so many squirrels around here until we started feeding the birds. Yesterday we had 5 hanging around.

This one already knocked down a seed holder and he's working on a wood pecker treat we got...also got some suite (sp) like one of you recommended but I have to come up with a squirrel proof plan.

Truthfully I don't mind the squirrels getting a taste but they just stay there and pig out....when the weather improves I'll do something about it but there's still ice on the ground so I don't want to bring the ladders out yet.

 

[bsruther]

The resident Hawks seem to keep our Squirrel populations down. I never see the Squirrels on open ground, unless they're running. I've never seen one on the feeders.
At our last house, Squirrels ate most of the birdseed and there was nothing we could do to keep them off the feeders.

 

[savageactor7]

figures^ if it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any at all. Most any time on a mild day you can spot a few hawks in loitering pattern at about 800ft...sometime more than that. I've seen the birds here react to them. But I've only been feeding for about 30+ days so perhaps when the hawks notice the squirrels out in the open the word will spread...

...crossing fingers.

 

[triptester]

The odds of seeing an albino moose are astronomical and to see this in the upper peninsula of Michigan , near Wisconsin , is even greater than astronomical. To see two of them together is nearly impossible

 

[bsruther]

The odds of seeing an albino moose are astronomical and to see this in the upper peninsula of Michigan , near Wisconsin , is even greater than astronomical. To see two of them together is nearly impossible

Kind of like winning the Lottery...without financial gain.

 

[jadm]

The odds of seeing an albino moose are astronomical and to see this in the upper peninsula of Michigan , near Wisconsin , is even greater than astronomical. To see two of them together is nearly impossible

Thanks for posting this picture. Amazing to say the least.

 

[savageactor7]

Well fry my hide...2 albino moose. Incredible.

 

[triptester]

More pics of albino moose

 

[karri0n]

A squirrel is nothing more than a rat with a furry tail but I do love singing chipmunks.
In Niagara Falls they have black squirrels. I've never seen them anywhere else but I haven't been everywhere yet.

Not for long. I was in NF about 3 years ago, and I saw one black squirrel, two reds, and quite a few grays. Once grays get into an area they are larger, more aggressive, and more proliferous than the other species. They always kill them off and overbreed the area within a few generations.

NF - meaning New Fairfield or is that just my brainlock on my hometown?? I have not seen any Blacks around but yes on the reds. Red squirrels are small and prefer conifers to live in - i think b/c of the cones and the small seeds to eat - but I could be wrong. Pootatuck Forest is a nice spot for red squirrels but I have not been hiking back there in a few years now.

Nope, Niagra Falls. Good to know you guys have reds over in New Fairfield, though. I didn't know we had any reds in CT.

 

[savageactor7]

Well the squirrels keep climbing the basketball pole and knocking down the bird feeders. So I cobbled up this quick fix with an old salmon fishing pole...if it proves itself to be squirrel proof I'll see what I can do to dress it up some.

just say'en ...it use to be a novelty to see a squirrel out and about doing it's thing...but when squad sized elements come out of nowhere and clean out the bird seed your attitude changes quickly. btw I went to that Droll bird feeder site to get some ideas, thanks again.

 

[PapaDave]

A squirrel is nothing more than a rat with a furry tail but I do love singing chipmunks.
In Niagara Falls they have black squirrels. I've never seen them anywhere else but I haven't been everywhere yet.

Not for long. I was in NF about 3 years ago, and I saw one black squirrel, two reds, and quite a few grays. Once grays get into an area they are larger, more aggressive, and more proliferous than the other species. They always kill them off and overbreed the area within a few generations.

NF - meaning New Fairfield or is that just my brainlock on my hometown?? I have not seen any Blacks around but yes on the reds. Red squirrels are small and prefer conifers to live in - i think b/c of the cones and the small seeds to eat - but I could be wrong. Pootatuck Forest is a nice spot for red squirrels but I have not been hiking back there in a few years now.

Nope, Niagra Falls. Good to know you guys have reds over in New Fairfield, though. I didn't know we had any reds in CT.

Here in Northern MI, we have reds, blacks, and grays.
Funny thing is, the chipmunks around here look strikingly like miniature squirrels with all kinds of shades. Maybe there's something in the water making 'em do a little crossbreeding?!
VERY strange. Maybe I'll get a pic later when it warms up.
Dave
P.S., Albino mooses are very cool. Bullwinkle would perhaps be envious.

 

[savageactor7]

Just reporting back to say that the ridiculous use of the fishing pole ^above to thwart the squirrels has worked.

Also this is a telephoto of 2 resident geese that stay by our pond most of the summer...it's the 2nd day they've been back. They always hang out in the way back yard to pick threw the puddled grass for food. When the pond is free of they'll move into that. btw...we feed them cracked corn, that's why they probably keep coming back.

It got up to 60 today and the snow is 90% gone.

 

[bsruther]

Just reporting back to say that the ridiculous use of the fishing pole ^above to thwart the squirrels has worked.

Also this is a telephoto of 2 resident geese that stay by our pond most of the summer...it's the 2nd day they've been back. They always hang out in the way back yard to pick threw the puddled grass for food. When the pond is free of they'll move into that. btw...we feed them cracked corn, that's why they probably keep coming back.

It got up to 60 today and the snow is 90% gone.

Nice shot...they can get pretty aggressive when they're nesting.

 

[jdeere5220]

More pics of albino moose

Thanks for those pictures You should send them into the Woods & Water News so the whole state can see them!

Here's a few deer in my backyard a couple days ago. Sorry it's so dark. The last one is a deer "making friends" with my archery target.

 

[savageactor7]

^that last pic is so cool jdeere.

Well this pic isn't the smoothest segue but here's the story. We live right across the old Erie canal and have thousands of the snappers around. Lot of 'em find their way into our pond. Not that I begrudge 'em that but they're voracious eaters of baby ducklings...and we feed our birds. I've seen the turtles take 11 ducklings in 1 hrs so when I get the chance a turtle goes down. This is a medium sized turtle...box or painted turtles we let be.

 

[bsruther]

^that last pic is so cool jdeere.

Well this pic isn't the smoothest segue but here's the story. We live right across the old Erie canal and have thousands of the snappers around. Lot of 'em find their way into our pond. Not that I begrudge 'em that but they're voracious eaters of baby ducklings...and we feed our birds. I've seen the turtles take 11 ducklings in 1 hrs so when I get the chance a turtle goes down. This is a medium sized turtle...box or painted turtles we let be.

Do you eat the snappers? I've heard they are very tasty. I caught one about that size in our pond last summer but, he broke the line when I got him on the bank. They have very nasty dispositions and can take your finger off in one chomp.
Nice pic btw.

 

[savageactor7]

No, my wife objects to the way I kill them (impaling) so she won't prepare them. Shooting them is best and easy...but then you have to go clean the weapon. Let me tell you they are not easy to kill with pioneer tools and you don't want to pick them up my the tail ever. The way you see pictured is the easiest way I've found.

She insists I get rid our recreational pond of them by returning them back to the canal or creek that runs by the house. Of course that doesn't work...she can be very demanding. I've had Bookbinders turtle soup in a can before...it was OK. I suppose with all the turtles I kill I should Google up a how too on opening them up...they are almost armored.

 

[woodpelletman]

I like the snappers in chili the best

You really should not waste the meat

First one we harvested was with the help of our local snapper expert

Beheading with a very sharp axe is best but leave the head alone ... it can still take of a finger after it is removed (reflex and whatnot)

Use a circular saw with the blade set shallow to cut the stomach plate or whatever it is called

Use the claws on the end of sticks for great back scratchers.

The heart in ours beat for 6 hours after being taken out Wow

The meat from different areas has many different flavors..... pick you favorite

Happy dining

Dale


Oh and I left some amazing details out for your own enjoyment

 

[fabguy01]

I like the snappers in chili the best

You really should not waste the meat

First one we harvested was with the help of our local snapper expert

Beheading with a very sharp axe is best but leave the head alone ... it can still take of a finger after it is removed (reflex and whatnot)

Use a circular saw with the blade set shallow to cut the stomach plate or whatever it is called

Use the claws on the end of sticks for great back scratchers.

The heart in ours beat for 6 hours after being taken out Wow

The meat from different areas has many different flavors..... pick you favorite

Happy dining

Dale


Oh and I left some amazing details out for your own enjoyment

the best way we have found to cook them is to first pressure cook them, and then deep fry with either drakes or shore lunch breading