Current Topic: Bears

A Black Bear in the Creek

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At the end of the summer, my friend and I were looking for birds at Pinebrook Park along the Brodhead Creek. We both heard something behind us and turned to see a small surprise.

Black Bear

A Black Bear gets into the creek

This Black Bear quietly made it’s way to the creek without us noticing, about twenty feet away. It got right in the water and crossed to the other side.

Black Bear

Bear crossing the creek

Black Bear

On the far bank

The bear’s fur was soaked! But it probably felt pretty good in the heat.

Black Bear

Dripping water

Black Bear

What’s a bear to do?

After situating itself on the other side, it shook the excess water off.

Black Bear

Black Bear

Black Bear

Black Bear

Lighting was a little tough, but we still managed to get a few keepers of it on the other side of the creek.

Black Bear

Posing on an open log

Within five minutes, it disappeared into the woods on the other side.

Black Bear

Disappearing into the brush

Backyard Wildlife – It’s Not Just Birds

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I’m often highlight my backyard birds so today I will give my other backyard friends (and foes!) the spotlight. Along with the birds, I get a variety of mammals, amphibians and some reptiles. Having bird feeders attracts many of these non-avian guests – both predictable and unexpected.

My yard and woods are loaded with Squirrels, mostly Gray Squirrels along with Chipmunks and a couple of Red Squirrels.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Eastern Chipmunk

Eastern Chipmunk

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

I do not mind them foraging for fallen seed, but it was a long and frustrating process to fully squirrel-proof all of my feeders. I have also caught other visitors cleaning up messes that the birds leave.

Skunk foraging under my feeders

Skunk foraging under my feeders at night

Northern Raccoon under my feeders

Northern Raccoon under my feeders at night

I get plenty of Eastern Cottontails and Groundhogs during the summer. Both of them seem to like to eat some of my nicer garden plants so I can’t say that I am too happy to have them hanging around; however, I realize that this is their home too.

Eastern Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail

Groundhog on my deck

Groundhog on my deck

My neighborhood gets a lot of White-tailed Deer.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

I’ve never had issues with them on my bird feeders, but I do have an even larger mammal who wants the seed.

Black Bear making his way to my feeders

Black Bear making his way to my feeders

Last year, a bear family of four visited us on multiple nights. This month was the first time I saw one of them during the day. We scared him away by making loud noises out the window.

Black Bear

Black Bear

I do have an unfortunate visitor as well. I found a mouse inside my home only once – after my cats already drowned it (don’t ask…). This particular one photographed below one made her nest in my grill cover when I had it folded under a table. I lifted the cover up and this mother mouse and her small babies fell out along with the nest. She quickly scurried away.

Mouse family

Mouse family

After she disappeared, I noticed that she left behind one of the babies! Even though it is just a mouse, I felt bad. I put the baby mouse and the nest inside a small box and left it near the bottom of my deck. Mom came for it shortly after and all were safe.

Mouse baby left behind

Mouse baby left behind

My best mammal visitors were a huge shock for me. I saw a Gray Fox walk past my yard one morning. I did get a couple of photos, but they were taken in a hurry. Later that day, I ran into an even bigger surprise as soon as I walked into the woods. I had TWO Foxes – a mom and her teenager.

Gray Foxes

Mom Gray Fox and her grown up Kit

All three of us stopped in our tracks. I was shaking when I took my initial photos, but they came out well enough. I ran across these foxes every day for a week and ended up getting some better photos, despite the dark, yet brightly back-lit woods.

Gray Fox

Gray Fox

Young Gray Fox

Young Gray Fox

I have one reptile yard visitor who I often find in my grass and under the rocks.

Ring-necked Snake

Ring-necked Snake

And many amphibians who visit – more so when I had a small pond in the back. I get American Toads, Tree Frogs, Wood Frogs and Peepers.

Eastern American Toad

Eastern American Toad

Birds, Bears, Foxes and Frogs – I wonder who else will show up?

Gray Fox

Gray Fox