Wildlife...

[AVGWarhawk]

My wife and I purchased a new home February this year. It backs to the wood and there is a large pond about 100 yards off our property. We have had several encounters with wildlife. Thus far:

1. Two deer that feed at our bird feeders nightly
2. A groundhog that surprised the heck out of my wife after he was caught sneaking up on her. They locked eyes in surprise and both ran off in opposite directions.
3. A gray fox that runs the same trail behind our house everyday.
4. Birds abound at feeders. Gold Finch, Slate Colored Junco, Blue Jay, Nut Hatch, Hummingbirds, Northern Oriole, various woodpeckers, etc.
5. Toads and frogs galore from the pond out back.
6. Snapping turtles from the same pond.

Today this hawk landed on our newly installed deck. We are living in a zoo!

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/20130710_125359_zpsffe50589.jpg

[BrucePartington]

My wife and I purchased a new home February this year. It backs to the wood and there is a large pond about 100 yards off our property. We have had several encounters with wildlife. Thus far:

1. Two deer that feed at our bird feeders nightly
2. A groundhog that surprised the heck out of my wife after he was caught sneaking up on her. They locked eyes in surprise and both ran off in opposite directions.
3. A gray fox that runs the same trail behind our house everyday.
4. Birds abound at feeders. Gold Finch, Slate Colored Junco, Blue Jay, Nut Hatch, Hummingbirds, Northern Oriole, various woodpeckers, etc.
5. Toads and frogs galore from the pond out back.
6. Snapping turtles from the same pond.

Today this hawk landed on our newly installed deck. We are living in a zoo!


I so envy you.
I only spot the occasional hedgehog, sometimes a hare. It's a semi-rural area, in the "old world", where wildlife has been massively hunted for centuries.

[Schroeder]

You forgot to mention the gazillion mosquitoes from the pond.:D

[AVGWarhawk]

By and large the mosquitoes are fewer at this house than our old home. That home was on a creek that fed the Chesapeake Bay. I suspect the 1000's of frogs in the pond eat a lot of mosquito larvae. When the frogs start making their calls for a female, usually starting about 6pm, we can hardly hear ourselves think. When a mosquito does show up, my wife is their first target. :D Best mosquito repellent for me is my wife. :haha:

[AVGWarhawk]

I so envy you.
I only spot the occasional hedgehog, sometimes a hare. It's a semi-rural area, in the "old world", where wildlife has been massively hunted for centuries.

Speaking of hares...I forgot to add a baby bunny hopped through the yard two weeks ago. Acted like he owned it.

[nikimcbee]

Speaking of hares...I forgot to add a baby bunny hopped through the yard two weeks ago. Acted like he owned it.


That explains the hawks.

[AVGWarhawk]

That explains the hawks.

Actually, just below him is a new small pond with waterfall that I created this past weekend. It has a large ceramic frog sprouting water(from a pump in the lower pond) into the top pond portion and the water falls to the lower pond. Looks like a natural watering hole with fish as far as he is concerned. Sadly, no fish! He will be waiting a long time!

However, I have a 8 pound poodle. Just ripe for picking I'm sure he is thinking!

[Herr-Berbunch]

Isn't nature wonderful, all I see are raptors overhead and the neighbour's cats going on my lawn - unfortunately they cats are never the prey! Don't even get as many foxes or hedgehogs as we did in town!

We also have fallow, muntjac, and roe deer but I've only ever seen muntjac, and only once.

[AVGWarhawk]

Nature is wonderful to a point. Squirrels can be and are a pain in the butt. Constantly getting after our bird feeders. I'm purchasing a few squirrel proof feeders. The deer love to eat a few of my plants. Hostas are like a salad to them. I planted about 6 hostas. Next day nothing but root left. Sometimes they eat my O'day Lillies. Often they raid our feeders. We cohabitate just fine but some of these buggers are costing me $$$$$. :-?

[Tribesman]

Nature is wonderful to a point. Squirrels can be and are a pain in the butt. Constantly getting after our bird feeders. I'm purchasing a few squirrel proof feeders. The deer love to eat a few of my plants. Hostas are like a salad to them. I planted about 6 hostas. Next day nothing but root left. Sometimes they eat my O'day Lillies. Often they raid our feeders. We cohabitate just fine but some of these buggers are costing me $$$$$. :-?
Remember, squirrels and deer are tasty, just consider your cost $$$$$ as a small outlay on fattening up the dinner

[Jimbuna]

Your very lucky Chris, all we get other than birds is the odd fox or hedgehog.

I remember being fascinated at the sight of squirrels in Neals back garden during the 2008 SubSim Meet.

[AVGWarhawk]

Remember, squirrels and deer are tasty, just consider your cost $$$$$ as a small outlay on fattening up the dinner

Seems logical, however, I'm not much for shooting a critter. Once I purchased a 30/30 with scope to deer hunt. I fired the gun only to zero in the scope. Then I sold it the gun. I just did not see myself killing a deer. I have had deer meat though. Sometimes it is grassy tasting. Overall, not bad. Never had squirrel.

[AVGWarhawk]

Your very lucky Chris, all we get other than birds is the odd fox or hedgehog.

I remember being fascinated at the sight of squirrels in Neals back garden during the 2008 SubSim Meet.

The squirrels are fascinating right up to the point were they chew through car wiring and outside light wiring. Destroy plant pots when they knock them over . Empty the feeders by shaking the poles. Just generally being a nuisance. :haha: I'll send you some Royal Post! :yeah:

[Red October1984]

Glad that somebody else can enjoy this! :sunny:

We used to drop scraps of food right behind our house and watch the foxes come up and take it at night.

I have deer walk through my yard every day...turkeys too. There are more squirrels than you can count and plenty of woods.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Madox58]

Destroy plant pots when they knock them over .
:haha:
I'm sorry but a quick scan of the whole post I saw.........
Destroy pot plants
:huh:
Man! My eyes snapped back to that REAL quick!
:har:

[Red October1984]

I have had deer meat though. Sometimes it is grassy tasting. Overall, not bad. Never had squirrel.

Squirrel is kinda tough. Hard to describe the taste...

Last one I had I cooked over a fire pit in our yard. They make for good eating.

Deer is good. We eat it all the time...Tacos, Sausage, Chili, Fried, Roasted, etc (Reminds me of Bubba from Forrest Gump)

[AVGWarhawk]

Glad that somebody else can enjoy this! :sunny:

We used to drop scraps of food right behind our house and watch the foxes come up and take it at night.

I have deer walk through my yard every day...turkeys too. There are more squirrels than you can count and plenty of woods.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I would not trade it for anything either. Our last home the only wildlife was yahoos that parked non-running cars and drive 4 wheelers all day in the backyard. Throw in sport bikes racing up and down the street to boot. We would watch this nonsense from our deck. It was time to go. We are now on a private drive with three other homes. Our homes all back to a conservation area. No more building around our homes! No road with bikes whizzing by doing wheelies. No cars with outrageously loud sound systems thumping on by. Just us, nutty squirrels, hawks, deer, rabbits, fox, ground hogs, assortment of birds and more frogs then we can count. Oh, we also have a barred owl. I have heard him twice. Have not seen him. I constructed a 10x16 deck specifically to sit, drink beer and enjoy the wildlife. It is working well. The wildlife is now enjoying our deck as seen today with a visit from a broad shouldered hawk.

[AVGWarhawk]

:haha:
I'm sorry but a quick scan of the whole post I saw.........
Destroy pot plants
:huh:
Man! My eyes snapped back to that REAL quick!
:har:

Not legal in Maryland......yet. They are working on it. Just something else that can be taxed. :shifty:

[Red October1984]

I would not trade it for anything either. Our last home the only wildlife was yahoos that parked non-running cars and drive 4 wheelers all day in the backyard. Throw in sport bikes racing up and down the street to boot. We would watch this nonsense from our deck. It was time to go. We are now on a private drive with three other homes. Our homes all back to a conservation area. No more building around our homes! No road with bikes whizzing by doing wheelies. No cars with outrageously loud sound systems thumping on by. Just us, nutty squirrels, hawks, deer, rabbits, fox, ground hogs, assortment of birds and more frogs then we can count. Oh, we also have a barred owl. I have heard him twice. Have not seen him. I constructed a 10x16 deck specifically to sit, drink beer and enjoy the wildlife. It is working well. The wildlife is now enjoying our deck as seen today with a visit from a broad shouldered hawk.

I'd hate that too...all the crap going up and down the road. I live on an old hundred year old farm road that branches off of a state highway. The only things off of this very short road is my house and the neighbor's farm.

...and of course the woods. :rock:

The only thing I can see wrong with your situation is that the woods are a conservation area. You can't hunt those animals...and you may not want to...it's something you decide for yourself. Sometimes the conservation areas have controlled hunts.

If I was going to live in the woods, it'd be my own woods that I can know like the back of my hand and hunt whatever lives in it.

Again...a you thing. Hunting is not for everybody. Like you said, you sold the rifle because you couldn't imagine shooting a deer. That's understandable and I'm really glad that you like your new place.

Also, there's a thing...You got to watch those Owls....I don't know if you have Screech Owls...but if you hear one 3 times in a row, it means you're going to have very bad luck. I'm not superstitious....but it's not a good thing to hear 3 times in a row. :arrgh!: :D

And the frogs....the Tree Frogs will get everywhere at least in my experience.

Ever wake up to see a tree frog sitting on your toothbrush? Or on all of the windows? :sunny:


Livin' in the woods.... 'Merica :rock:

[WernherVonTrapp]

Very nice, AVGWarhawk. Me and my wife also recently moved from the city in NJ to rural PA. I can't tell for certain in that photo, but that looks like a Sharp Shinned Hawk. We have one living nearby too. Same thing with mosquitos by me also (2 lakes in our community). Not really a problem. Early in the season, we were inundated with gnats, but they were gone after 2 or 3 weeks. Lots of frogs, newts, land snails and salamanders too, not to mention all kinds of spiders.
Good luck in your new home, mate.:up:

[Sailor Steve]

With a golf course next door and a small river a block away we get a few squirrels the come out in our parking lot looking for food, and a bunch of different birds. That's about it.

[WernherVonTrapp]

With a golf course next door and a small river a block away we get a few squirrels the come out in our parking lot looking for food, and a bunch of different birds. That's about it.
A golf course?:hmmm: Surely you must've seen a gopher or two. Maybe one that sounds like "Flipper"?:D
http://bigfanboy.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/caddyshack3-front.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Nah. There's a path that goes around the course and part way through it, but I don't play myself so I don't see much of it.

[Jimbuna]

The squirrels are fascinating right up to the point were they chew through car wiring and outside light wiring. Destroy plant pots when they knock them over . Empty the feeders by shaking the poles. Just generally being a nuisance. :haha: I'll send you some Royal Post! :yeah:

Oh dear...wasn't aware of that :doh:

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/Ivonqueen/little%20sayings/funny-pictures-angry-squirrel-leave.jpg (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=squirrel+funny&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=-AqGsWxMqgu5_M&tbnid=8YJgl-yhcjwOiM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs673.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2FIvo nqueen%2Fmedia%2Flittle%2520sayings%2Ffunny-pictures-angry-squirrel-leave.jpg.html&ei=XYbeUaHtDoew0QXU5oGgAg&bvm=bv.48705608,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNFYuqBFwpxoUntbyuS4Mh-xQy8t_w&ust=1373624221490966)

[AVGWarhawk]

No worries. I'll fix their little wagon. Squirrel proof feeders. :D

[AVGWarhawk]

This is what I'm talking about. Persistent little bugger. Looks like Circus de Soleil in my backyard for crying out loud. :wah: Time for that squirrel proof feeder.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/1013161_603987319621933_2027202421_n_zpsb3f771cc.j pg

[Jimbuna]

I get that with pigeons, they chase off the Wood Pigeons and Collar Doves so I reciprocate whenever I see them.

[fireftr18]

Get one Spiced Rum's bears. That might work.

[Red October1984]

Squirrel Proof feeders never have worked for me. The squirrels knocked it down and broke it open. We just quit putting out feeders. :timeout:

[AVGWarhawk]

I think they can be combated with some success. Short of a .22 rifle that is.

Then this is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINmQ633tQ4

[Armistead]

I love living by the river, surrounded by 1000's of acres. Bear and I don't walk by the river as much in the summer, ticks, numerous snakes, etc, but I love walking it during late fall through spring. I do take Bear canoeing, he seems to enjoy it.

I've seen about every critter known, deer to bears and we even chased a bigfoot.

I've tried about everything to keep squirrels out of my feeders and deer out of my garden, but can't do it.

[Jimbuna]

I think they can be combated with some success. Short of a .22 rifle that is.

Then this is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINmQ633tQ4

LOL :)

I'd have thought the best way would be to have a dog.

[Red October1984]

I love living by the river, surrounded by 1000's of acres. Bear and I don't walk by the river as much in the summer, ticks, numerous snakes, etc, but I love walking it during late fall through spring. I do take Bear canoeing, he seems to enjoy it.

I've seen about every critter known, deer to bears and we even chased a bigfoot.

I've tried about everything to keep squirrels out of my feeders and deer out of my garden, but can't do it.


You live next to a river?

Got Beaver problems? :hmmm: Those are more annoying than squirrels.

LOL :)

I'd have thought the best way would be to have a dog.

No...not the best way. :O: Everybody has dogs around here and the local cats do more killing than the dogs.

[AVGWarhawk]

Our poodle will chase them off. But, the attraction of a fat feeder of seed has the squirrel returning in a few minutes. I need that hawk to start making a daily snack of squirrel.

[Armistead]

LOL :)

I'd have thought the best way would be to have a dog.

Bear will chase them for hours. The squirrels are pretty smart, they tire Bear out, he comes inside and they go for the feeders.

[August]

We've been lucky when it comes to feeders. The piece of tin sheeting we nailed around the post seems to have so far frustrated the squirrels unceasing efforts to get to the seed.

[Madox58]

I think they can be combated with some success. Short of a .22 rifle that is.

Then this is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINmQ633tQ4

Now I may have to build one of those!
:haha:

Pick up a cheap Air Soft Rifle. It won't kill the nutters and you'll have a blast BBQ'ing and puttin' the hurtin' on em!
:)

And the YouTube hits you could get with funny squirrel vids?

[Red October1984]

Now I may have to build one of those!
:haha:

Pick up a cheap Air Soft Rifle. It won't kill the nutters and you'll have a blast BBQ'ing and puttin' the hurtin' on em!
:)

And the YouTube hits you could get with funny squirrel vids?

But you already have the .22 SMG :03:

That's more than enough and plenty fun... :D

[WernherVonTrapp]

I think they can be combated with some success. Short of a .22 rifle that is.

Then this is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fINmQ633tQ4
:har: That is the funniest thing I've seen in ages! What, an imaginative way to control pesky squirrels.:haha:

Then again, you might just want to pick up one of these:
http://www.backyardbirdsdiscoverycenter.com/prodimages/op-5108lgbig.jpg

I had the same problem with squirrels, destroying every bird feeder, squirrel-proof poles, feeder-domes, etc..
Then I picked up one of these babies and watched those squirrels go nuts because they couldn't destroy it (all metal cage and hanger) and they couldn't fit their heads into the openings to get at the seed. They eventually, all stopped trying. Mine had a 2mm wire cable as a hanger.:up:

[Jimbuna]

An armour plated feeder :yeah:

[Red October1984]

An armour plated feeder :yeah:

I've seen stuff like that around here....There are still ways that squirrels can break them.

I had a wooden house bird feeder that was semi-squirrel proof and they cut the darn thing down out of the tree and broke it open. :03:

[Jimbuna]

Just like an educated squirrel would.

[Red October1984]

Just like an educated squirrel would.

And there are two ways to deal with the educated squirrels...

Go unorthodox or shoot 'em. :D :03:

[Jimbuna]

Not in the UK you wouldn't.

[Red October1984]

Not in the UK you wouldn't.

Shooting them isn't an option everywhere...I know...

What about the unorthodox part?

Put mousetraps along tree branches...near the feeders... :O:

[August]

This is our back yard bird feeder. Note the squirrel tail peeking out below the tin shield. So far they have been unable to get around it up to the seed. Not for lack of trying though!

http://home.comcast.net/~rdsterling/pwpimages/cr%202013%20July%20017.jpg?PHPSESSID=99e719f195748 49672ccad14abeef220

[WernherVonTrapp]

This is our back yard bird feeder. Note the squirrel tail peeking out below the tin shield. So far they have been unable to get around it up to the seed. Not for lack of trying though!


Nice setup.:up: Right height, good distance from trees or other objects that squirrels can jump from, good slippery tin surface = virtually squirrel proof.

[August]

Nice setup.:up: Right height, good distance from trees or other objects that squirrels can jump from, good slippery tin surface = virtually squirrel proof.


It's comical as they crawl up the post inside the guard only to be stymied by the dents I put in the top. You can hear them in there cursing up a storm sometimes. :D

[Jimbuna]

Love that feeder...much sturdier than mine :cool:

[fireftr18]

It's comical as they crawl up the post inside the guard only to be stymied by the dents I put in the top. You can hear them in there cursing up a storm sometimes. :D

:k_rofl:

[AVGWarhawk]

Looks like it works well August. My wife is picking up a squirrel buster. The center fill is surrounded by fence like material that is large enough for song birds but not for squirrels. There is another I want to get with a cage like structure that the weight of the squirrel makes the cage close down along with doors to the seed inside the cylinder. Diabolical!!!! :D

[VipertheSniper]

As I was taking some pictures early in the morning this weekend I was pretty surprised to see this sitting just 5 meters away from me... In fact I was so surprised, that picture originally was way underexposed.

http://files.myopera.com/martinbisanz/albums/14570042/IMG_3490.JPG

[AVGWarhawk]

Looks what we would name as a Cooper's Hawk. Nice shot.

[Jimbuna]

Certainly a hunting bird/hawk of some kind.

[VipertheSniper]

Looks what we would name as a Cooper's Hawk. Nice shot.

I think it was a young Kestrel, which are pretty common around here. The Cooper's Hawk doesn't live on the European Continent.

[AVGWarhawk]

I think it was a young Kestrel, which are pretty common around here. The Cooper's Hawk doesn't live on the European Continent.

I assumes as much. However, it looks like the Cooper's Hawk on our side of the mud ball. :)

[AVGWarhawk]

Back to my squirrel issue. We purchased a squirrel baffle. The black cylinder on the pole pictured below. It works quite well. The Shepard's hook has also been moved from the trees so the squirrels can not conduct strafing runs from the tree tops! This morning our brown fox made an appearance. We see him from time to time. I wish he had a fixation on squirrels for dinner!


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/20130725_080302_zpsd8c902d8.jpg

[Oberon]

Living out in the sticks has its advantages to seeing wildlife. Here's some I've taken over the years:

http://imageshack.us/a/img837/1156/dq7x.jpg
Magpie

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/4857/5j70.jpg
Toad

http://imageshack.us/a/img841/7120/rp28.jpg
MINE - Herring Gull

http://imageshack.us/a/img13/4002/0kba.jpg
Rather blurry picture of an albino starling

http://imageshack.us/a/img849/9764/r1nv.jpg
Robin in the snow

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/926/bpsi.jpg
And the most recent of our animal guests - a baby Adder (not Black, alas) found in next doors garden and released as far away from our gardens as we could get. :haha: Cute little thing, fiesty and very hissy. :haha:

[AVGWarhawk]

Man, that snake is pretty in color but sheesh...not a fan of snake! We have toads in numbers as well as frogs. I find these winged and 4 footed neighbors much better than the 2 legged variety. :D

[AVGWarhawk]

So we get a squirrel feeder. Helps combat the constant attack on the bird feeders. It is a simple wood frame with mesh on the bottom to hold the food and drain any water from rain. Well, seems there is a little payback. Our blue bird is raiding the squirrel feeder with impunity. Muahahahahahhahaha!

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/20130725_081613_zps29410ca9.jpg

[Platapus]

If anyone is interested in squrells and how hard it is to stop them, the BBC put out a documentary entitled "Daylight Robbery". I assume that it is on Youtube. There was actually two documentaries. I preferred the first.

It is a very enjoyable film to watch about how clever squrells can be when motivated by food. :yeah:

[AVGWarhawk]

They are quite clever and relentless. We know we will not beat them. Shoot one and five more come behind it. So, we are working on working with them. It has become challenge but we are winning. There is now a tray on the ground with squirrel food. The feeders moved to a place that is less tempting for them to try the strafing run. The poles with baffles. They get frustrated and eat what seeds are thrown to the ground by the birds. The soon take the path of least resistance and go to the squirrel feed on the ground. At least today they started using it.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Nice wildlife pics everyone!:up: I've got a few bird pics from my new home in PA.

Tom Turkeys:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/toms_zpsd3c0b7b8.jpg

Scarlet Tanager:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/scarlettanager_zps0bc7998e.jpg

Northern Flicker:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/northernflicker_zpsac27eeb1.jpg

Dark-Eyed Junco:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/darkeyedjunco_zps093aa1e1-1.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

The only place I have seen wild turkey is PA. Strange but beautiful bird.

[WernherVonTrapp]

The only place I have seen wild turkey is PA. Strange but beautiful bird.
I've seen a lot of them whilst living in NJ too. I also saw a lot of these bad boys in Jersey::o
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/blackbear_zpsc4e742cd.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Cool shots everyone :cool:

[frau kaleun]

Yes, very nice. I've noticed quite a few birdies flapping around the patio here and wonder if it would be worthwhile putting out some kind of feeder eventually.

Naturally there are squirrels too but I enjoy watching them more than the birds so I wouldn't mind if they stole a snack or two or three or, more likely, all of them.

Also it would probably provide a view of interest for whatever kitties I get, who will certainly be housebound except for trips out to the vet as needed.

OTOH I start thinking that attracting birds to the patio would just result in them leaving little "presents" everywhere for me to scrub off the brick, so maybe not a great idea. :haha:

Incidentally I had quite a laugh when Oberon posted his pictures earlier, the first one didn't load for a long time so I ended up sitting there looking at the word "Magpie" with what was clearly a picture of a toad underneath. Started to get a little worried for the state of boy's education and/or eyesight until the full post loaded. :O:

[WernherVonTrapp]

Well, I love taking photos and viewing photos of nature & wildlife. These are some more photos I've taken over the years. The only recent one here is the photo of the Luna Moth taken from the side of my garage.

Luna Moth:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/LunaMoth_zps2b2598b4.jpg

Great Blue Heron:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/GreatBlueHeron_zpsb74c86cb.jpg

Great Egret:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/GreatEgret_zps30c3ebf6.jpg

White Tailed Buck:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/maledeer_zps0d4cbfe9.jpg

White Tailed "Bambi":
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/fawn_zps61fa4b10.jpg

:up:

[frau kaleun]

Luna Moth:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/LunaMoth_zps2b2598b4.jpg


My first thought when I saw this was, "Ooooh! Invisibility potions!"

I can't decide whether that's awesome, or incredibly sad. :O:

[Lionclaw]

A magpie eating some remains which a fox had left behind. Saw the fox eating something the night before.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9785/4zyz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/4zyz.jpg/)

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6220/rvpw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/248/rvpw.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4069/bw4h.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/42/bw4h.jpg/)

[AVGWarhawk]

I wish our fox would eat the squirrels. :D

[Oberon]

We had a whole family of foxes for a short while, cubs and all. Was quite nice to watch them play, but sadly around here foxes tend to meet the business end of a twelve bore more often than not, so they don't hang around in an area for long.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

I've seen a lot of wildlife in spite of living in the middle of urban Florida so here's a few of what I've got on film, most of these where taken from my porch.
Cardinals:
http://imageshack.us/a/img818/2161/73z4.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img138/7516/ae7l.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img194/3801/0flb.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img842/5682/dd84.jpg
Blue jay:
http://imageshack.us/a/img708/9062/yg9m.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img29/3181/nr0s.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img202/386/fap3.jpg
The Doves:
http://imageshack.us/a/img844/8175/kxu9.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img802/4465/8gb2.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img69/3889/7r9t.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img821/1036/qju7.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/8308/tnbp.jpg

[WernherVonTrapp]

My first thought when I saw this was, "Ooooh! Invisibility potions!"

I can't decide whether that's awesome, or incredibly sad. :O:
That moth is actually quite large; almost the size of my hand. Another interesting thing is that they only live for about 2 weeks in the "moth" stage. During this time they eat nothing (they have no mouth) and they only live to mate. Though I've seen them around from time to time, they are rather rare, especially to be able to get a photo of.:03:
Sorry, I'm drawing a blank on the "Invisibility Potion" reference.:doh:

@Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg:
Nice pics.:up: I see you have Blue-Jays and Cardinals in FA too. The doves look like a genus of Morning Dove.
Is that an Anole Lizard?

[frau kaleun]

That moth is actually quite large; almost the size of my hand. Another interesting thing is that they only live for about 2 weeks in the "moth" stage. During this time they eat nothing (they have no mouth) and they only live to mate. Though I've seen them around from time to time, they are rather rare, especially to be able to get a photo of.:03:

Sorry, I'm drawing a blank on the "Invisibility Potion" reference.:doh:

I didn't know they even existed as a real thing... :88)

...however I am very familiar with their fantasy alchemical properties (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Luna_Moth_Wing). :O:

[WernherVonTrapp]

I didn't know they even existed as a real thing... :88)

...however I am very familiar with their fantasy alchemical properties (http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Luna_Moth_Wing). :O:
:haha: Ahhhh, OK, now I'm in the loop.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

@Kptlt. Hellmut Neuerburg:
Nice pics.:up: I see you have Blue-Jays and Cardinals in FA too. The doves look like a genus of Morning Dove.
Is that an Anole Lizard?
Thanks:salute:. Yes the Blue Jay and Cardinals have been down here for the past few months now or rather when I've seen them, in fact the Cardinals have a nest somewhere nearby and they have a little one (3rd photo) which I believe to be a baby male. I must admit though the Cardinals are difficult to get photos of, as their very easily frightened. The Blue Jay doesn't come around a lot but at least it will sit still long enough for me to get a photo or five. As for the doves it seems that they are the Eurasian Collared Dove http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Collared_Dove, which are remarkably tame birds.

[WernherVonTrapp]

...As for the doves it seems that they are the Eurasian Collared Dove http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Collared_Dove, which are remarkably tame birds.
Ahhh, very nice. They look similar to our Mourning Doves, except for the collar.:yep:
We have some small lizards here in PA, though not nearly as big as the FA ones. I've got family in FA and have seen those lizards.:o

PA Newt:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/newt_zps56e58676.jpg

Sharp Shinned Hawk: (NJ Pic)
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/sharpshinned_zpse89fc8e8.jpg

These are from my old house in New Jersey.
White-throated Sparrow (center), w/2 House Sparrows:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/white-throated_zps247830f3.jpg

Male & Female House Finch:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/housefinch_zps8944b107.jpg

House Wren (very small bird):
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/housewren_zpsdd8577aa.jpg

Mocking Bird:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/mocking_zps7a15ed15.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

We have wrens as well. Our table umbrella is dark brown. When closed, for some reason, they think it is a tree trunk. They climb all over it. We also have the house finches that you have pictured. Nice shots.

[Betonov]

Too bad it was too dark to take a picture of that hedgehog yesterday.
The thing was huge, like a greek phalanx.
Just kidding :O:
It was still a big fat hedgehog

[Jimbuna]

Amazing photos....a little fella I almost stood on whilst out in the garden a couple of nights ago.

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/5338/ygaz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/560/ygaz.jpg/)

[WernherVonTrapp]

Hedgehogs are fascinating creatures. Nice pic, thanks for sharing that Jim.:salute:


Some more bird pics from my old home and surrounding suburbs.

Brown-headed Cowbird:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Acowbird_zps949f3a13.jpg

Common Grackle:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Agrackle_zps7154c006.jpg

Tufted Titmouse:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Atitmouse_zps7dd19ea6.jpg

Black-capped Chickadee:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Achickadee_zps57632b1e.jpg

The Setting Sun (no filter):
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Asun_zps704a43b5.jpg
:sunny:

[AVGWarhawk]

We have the Tufted Tit Mouse and Black Capped Chickadee. Frequent our feeders year around.

[WernherVonTrapp]

We have the Tufted Tit Mouse and Black Capped Chickadee. Frequent our feeders year around.

We have wrens as well. Our table umbrella is dark brown. When closed, for some reason, they think it is a tree trunk. They climb all over it. We also have the house finches that you have pictured. Nice shots.
They're beautiful birds, aren't they? Even the ones that appear bland look much more beautiful when viewed up close or through the eye of a lens.

Have you noticed that for a very small bird, those House Wrens make a lot of noise. They have a noisy warbling song that they repeat over and over.:D

[AVGWarhawk]

Yes sir. Our Wrens make a bunch of noise as the sit on our deck chairs. For such a small bird they are loud. We usually have 4 of them land on our umbrella and twitter about poking inside the folds of the closed umbrella.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Yes sir. Our Wrens make a bunch of noise as the sit on our deck chairs. For such a small bird they are loud. We usually have 4 of them land on our umbrella and twitter about poking inside the folds of the closed umbrella.They love to eat small insects, especially spiders. That's probably what they're after on your deck umbrella. Mine is always full of small spiders and other insects, though I haven't seen but one wren since moving to PA.

[Oberon]

Amazing photos....a little fella I almost stood on whilst out in the garden a couple of nights ago.



Not just me then! :haha: Almost tripped over one on the way to work the other week. I take a torch with me now just in case. :yep:

[WernherVonTrapp]

For all their bright colors, the Baltimore Oriole blends-in quite nicely into it's environment, especially in this photo.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/baltimoreoriole_zps9b904363.jpg

Another Black Bear photo, taken from the driver-side window of my moving vehicle, which caused some blurring.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/bkbear_zpscbcb6d94.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

They love to eat small insects, especially spiders. That's probably what they're after on your deck umbrella. Mine is always full of small spiders and other insects, though I haven't seen but one wren since moving to PA.

Spiders we have. A lot. I think the mild winters is not killing a majority off.

[fireftr18]

Wern, it looks like the bear is just non-chalantly crossing the street. And it seems like they're accepted as just another animal like a dog.
Bears have made a re-appearance in one of my favorite camping areas. :timeout:

[Jimbuna]

Not just me then! :haha: Almost tripped over one on the way to work the other week. I take a torch with me now just in case. :yep:

Reminds me of Victor Meldrew and his slipper :)

[AVGWarhawk]

Reminds me of Victor Meldrew and his slipper :)

Salty looking character.

[Jimbuna]

Salty looking character.

He's a great comedy actor that plays the part of a miserable bugga :)

Look up any episode on you tube of 'one foot in the grave' I think you'll like it.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Wern, it looks like the bear is just non-chalantly crossing the street. And it seems like they're accepted as just another animal like a dog.
Bears have made a re-appearance in one of my favorite camping areas. :timeout:
Actually, that photo was taken from my patrol cruiser. We were receiving numerous calls about this bear. He effortlessly hopped that fence, strolled through that property and hopped the fence again on the other side. Not much we could/would do in these situations except track them for as long as possible. They were common where I patrolled.
I used to love the newbies who would move into town from the city. They used to ask: "Aren't you going to dart it and move it to another location?":haha:
My answer was always the same: "This is the mountains and where the bears live. Where would we move it to, the city?"

[AVGWarhawk]

Actually, that photo was taken from my patrol cruiser. We were receiving numerous calls about this bear. He effortlessly hopped that fence, strolled through that property and hopped the fence again on the other side. Not much we could/would do in these situations except track them for as long as possible. They were common where I patrolled.
I used to love the newbies who would move into town from the city. They used to ask: "Aren't you going to dart it and move it to another location?":haha:
My answer was always the same: "This is the mountains and where the bears live. Where would we move it to, the city?"

Maybe dart the city slickers and drop them back off in their previous urban dwellings. :haha:

[fireftr18]

Actually, that photo was taken from my patrol cruiser. We were receiving numerous calls about this bear. He effortlessly hopped that fence, strolled through that property and hopped the fence again on the other side. Not much we could/would do in these situations except track them for as long as possible. They were common where I patrolled.
I used to love the newbies who would move into town from the city. They used to ask: "Aren't you going to dart it and move it to another location?":haha:
My answer was always the same: "This is the mountains and where the bears live. Where would we move it to, the city?"

:har:

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

So I'm sitting outside looking for the cardinals, and I looked up at the nearby phone pole and I happened to see this!
http://imageshack.us/a/img838/1919/kc37.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img191/244/dnbc.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/3056/kqcr.jpg
I think its a Cooper's Hawk as it was the nearest I could find in terms of the beak and colors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hawk What do you think it is?

[August]

I think its a Cooper's Hawk as it was the nearest I could find in terms of the beak and colors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hawk What do you think it is?

Might be, but I do know enough about birds to know that when they stand on one foot like that they're healthy.

[WernherVonTrapp]

So I'm sitting outside looking for the cardinals, and I looked up at the nearby phone pole and I happened to see this!



I think its a Cooper's Hawk as it was the nearest I could find in terms of the beak and colors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hawk What do you think it is?
The Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp Shinned Hawk (adults) are very hard to tell apart. They look almost identical. From a distance, even veteran bird watchers have a hard time distinguishing one from the other.
They also share a similar range.

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Coopers-VS-SharpShinned3_zpsc8e1353f.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Coopers-VS-SharpShinned4_zpsd790a378.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/Coopers-VS-SharpShinned_zpsba650a14.jpg

One of the more distinctive features of the Sharp-Shinned Hawk is the squared tail (at left) .vs the more rounded tail of the Cooper's Hawk (at right).

BTW, beautiful, absolutely beautiful close-up pics you took.:up:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/sharp-shinned_hawk/lifehistory

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/id

[AVGWarhawk]

These little guys think my umbrella is a tree. They poke between the folds and up under the top.


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/1012452_613450135342318_288576461_n_zps6ffe0190.jp g


And our deer that like to eat my hostas. They think it is a salad or something. The deer get to about 30 feet from our house. We can sit at our dinner table and watch them. Usually show up at dusk and hang around our feeders.


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/1013723_613438292010169_1686227772_n_zps4b3676dc.j pg

[AVGWarhawk]

So I'm sitting outside looking for the cardinals, and I looked up at the nearby phone pole and I happened to see this!

I think its a Cooper's Hawk as it was the nearest I could find in terms of the beak and colors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hawk What do you think it is?

I say Cooper as well. The tear drop brown in the feathers make me believe it is a Cooper.

[Jimbuna]

Your a lucky sod Chris...wildlife wise :sunny:

[AVGWarhawk]

It's nice to come home to. I sit on my deck and drink a beer. Watch the critters.

[Jimbuna]

It's nice to come home to. I sit on my deck and drink a beer. Watch the critters.

I do the same thing but the critters/neighbours get a little uneasy when I leave my decking lights on at their shower/bath time :)

[AVGWarhawk]

I do the same thing but the critters/neighbours get a little uneasy when I leave my decking lights on at their shower/bath time :)

Well, the binoculars you have my play a part in that. :haha:

[Jimbuna]

Well, the binoculars you have my play a part in that. :haha:

Took a shot of my neighbours wife feeding the birds the other day with a 250mm zoom lens and whilst showing him he said "Can I have a copy"?

I asked why and he said "I'll photoshop it into something funny".

You can imagine my response...he'd probably stick her head on a nude for a laugh but at my expense :o

[AVGWarhawk]

I think I would be asking why you are taking a picture of my wife. :hmmm: :haha:

[Jimbuna]

I think I would be asking why you are taking a picture of my wife. :hmmm: :haha:

My neighbour (his family included as well as mine) have been friends for 30 years now and believe me, some of the practical tricks they have played on me over the years are 'eye openers' :)

[WernherVonTrapp]

These little guys think my umbrella is a tree. They poke between the folds and up under the top.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/1012452_613450135342318_288576461_n_zps6ffe0190.jp g

And our deer that like to eat my hostas. They think it is a salad or something. The deer get to about 30 feet from our house. We can sit at our dinner table and watch them. Usually show up at dusk and hang around our feeders.



Hahaah, I see what you mean now. Nice picture of those birds.:yeah:
I think I have a photo somewhere of one actually holding a spider or harvestman in it's mouth. I'll see if I can locate it. Nice Pics of the deer too.:yep:

[AVGWarhawk]

They poke around in the folds looking for bugs. Very playful and vocal.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I definitely must get a new digital camera. The one I have is over 10 years old and I've been having some problems with the settings, changing all of a sudden on their own whilst I'm focusing or taking a shot.:nope:

These are female and/or juvenile-male Ruby Throated Hummingbirds:

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb1_zps8e1f2f68.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb2_zpse1d81b6f.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb3_zps8766b819.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb4_zpsa19b3bff.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb5_zps4247d6e9.jpg

[Stealhead]

I do not have any photos(this bird is good at not being seen) but there is a Great Horned Owl that likes the pine and oak trees around the house.It likes to hang around especially in the early morning and around dusk.The other birds dislike its presence seeing a threat so they will try to make it leave by buzzing right past as it sits on it perch it does not work though.

I was watching one evening and I noticed that even a tiny humming bird was pestering the owl.It was a pretty funny site this tiny humming bird trying to make this massive owl go away.Luckily for the other birds the owl must mostly eat rodents though it could make a meal of another bird if it wanted.I have found the remains of a hare that had been caught by the owl once.

I stood one evening and watched the Great horned for a while or was it watching me?:hmmm: Anyway I admired the sight for a few minutes and it looked like the bird would stay for a while so I went inside to get my camera and of course he had flown away.

You can also see other owls here screech owls and barn owls as well.You'll see the same owls on most of the Eastern seaboard if you know where to look for them.They have regional sub species

[WernherVonTrapp]

While I was working my watch early one morning, I got a call from a DPW employee asking to meet him on the soccer field. There, I met him and a great horned owl that had entagled itself in one of the soccer goal nets. I contacted a friend of mine who was both, an animal control officer and ASPCA official. He promptly responded to the scene where the netting was cut away from around the owl, though still entagled through it's wing. The owl was carefully placed into a small cage and taken to an ASPCA friendly veterinarian.
The remainder of the netting was removed from it's (broken) wing and the owl remained with the vet until fully healed. It was then taken to the mountains of West Milford, NJ and set free again into the wild.
Only one other time have I seen one in the wild and it was at night while I was on official duty.:smug: I have certainly heard alot more of them than I have seen.

[Stealhead]

Indeed owls are very elusive it seems you hear them more than see them.Of course the funny thing is they do not actually make the "who" sound that they are attributed with.

Around here we also have these little screech owls they are very elusive I think I have only seen them once in my life having lived in Florida for all these years.This was a long time ago with my dad we saw four little screech owls all in one group.

I seem to get lucky with wildlife and chance encounters without a way to record them.While I was stationed in Germany I was riding my bike in the hills and I stopped to take a break in a meadow.So I hop off my bike and walk along into the middle of this meadow this was early in the morning about 7:30 or so I look up and here sits this huge Roe Deer buck I mean a real stag.I guess he had not heard nor smelled me and I was looking down at the ground as I walked along so we looked up at each other and he just let out this long breath I'll never forget that and I could see the condensation in the sunlight and he just bounded away out of the meadow and and up the hill into the forest.For a few seconds though we just stood there.It was pure serendipity there is no way I could have known that deer was there and crept up on him.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Oops, I was wrong. I just thought of another owl I saw perched atop a utility pole at night. So that makes three times instead of two. I called my partner to my location "right away" (he thought I ran into trouble with a perp) and when he arrived, I pointed to the top of the pole and shined my cruiser's spot lamp on it. He said to me: "How do you always find these things?!"

I run into deer quite often, I mean, not with my car or anything, just coincidentally. Over in my parts, we have a lot of white-tailed deer. They make this loud, intimidating "snort" sound, almost like a bull does. They also like to stamp one hoof in order to alert the others of potential danger. The underside of their tails are white and they raise their tails like a warning flag when startled. Cool stuff, to me.:03:

[Stealhead]

This one in Germany was a real sight all by himself at least so far as I could tell there might have been some other deer up the hill in the woods that I could not see.Of course they would surely have alerted him to my presence sooner I would think.

Many animals are very sensitive to smell and they become alert when they get the sent of human in the air.Most of the time deer if they are up wind of you they will smell you and be alert.I think what allowed me to get so close to that stag was that I was downwind from him so he could not smell me.He might also have taken his time to scope the area humans being his only real threat and felt that it was clear so he relaxed and took the time to eat.

On the base we had smaller deer I know they stayed there because they where safe being no hunting on military bases of course animals do not know that in the way that we do but they can sense safe places.We also had lots of hares and they where safe because the only birds of prey around the base had been trained to hunt other birds in order to scare away (hopefully) most other birds who might get ingested by jet engines.

In the Air Force at least in flight line jobs everyone does a "FOD walk" at the start of each shift (looking for and picking up small bits of trash) one day while we where doing our walk we saw this bird like a mocking bird i guess or the European version.Anyway this bird was stuck down in the drainage line so we tried to get him to go near a manhole so we could grab him and get him out.Of course this little bird was not going to corporate.Finally someone realized that the bird could not have gotten down in the drain line via the grates they where to small there was a larger opening somewhere.So we decided that we had wasted tax payer dollars trying to save a bird that really did not need our help.Of curse the intent was good and we did think at first that he was trapped.

[AVGWarhawk]

What the......


Today, what shows in our backyard? A coyote? Mangy fox more than likely.


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/20130812_114128_zpsc5661e75.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/20130812_114232_zpsc919f621.jpg


I feel like I'm living in Sherwood Forest!!!

[WernherVonTrapp]

Wow, that looks like a red fox that has lost most of it's hair, maybe due to "Ringworm" infection. I've seen similar fur/hair loss in both cats and dogs with that fungal infection, but not quite to this extent.:o

[AVGWarhawk]

Quite possibly ringworm. My wife took the picture. She said he was skin and bones.

This morning I took the poodle out for his morning constitutional, there in the woods not 25 feet from me is a deer.

[WernherVonTrapp]

We have a resident doe that now has two fawns. We feed the doe periodically but sparingly, I don't want it to become dependent. These photo were taken from (maybe) 20 meters away on the adjoining property.

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/deer1_zps64611d76.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/deer3_zps93d326d2.jpg

A not so clear photo of an Osprey above my home.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/osprey_zps46b7f47d.jpg

An orb-weaver spider with an interesting image on it's abdomen:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/spider_zps622ad0fc.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

We had a doe and fawn come by this evening. They discovered our squirrel feed. In the middle of the feeding comes our fox who is quite healthy compared to the others and lifts his leg on the squirrel feeder. Sheesh. I'll post a picture later.

[WernherVonTrapp]

We had a doe and fawn come by this evening. They discovered our squirrel feed. In the middle of the feeding comes our fox who is quite healthy compared to the others and lifts his leg on the squirrel feeder. Sheesh. I'll post a picture later.:haha: That's his squirrel feeder now.

[Jimbuna]

You lucky bugga (apart from the spider) :o

[AVGWarhawk]

:haha: That's his squirrel feeder now.

I could not believe it when he did that. Just waltzed in and squatted. Completed his business and walked on. I did not get a picture as my wife and I were already making the deer a bit uneasy. They can see us through our window. Heck, we are only 25-30 feet from them.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/IMAG0637_zps2970ecaf.jpg


http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q62/avgwarhawk/IMAG0636_zpsce13419f.jpg

[AVGWarhawk]

You lucky bugga (apart from the spider) :o

I hate spiders. I know they eat other bugs and all but some around my house are large enough to carry one off. No thanks!

[AVGWarhawk]

I definitely must get a new digital camera. The one I have is over 10 years old and I've been having some problems with the settings, changing all of a sudden on their own whilst I'm focusing or taking a shot.:nope:

These are female and/or juvenile-male Ruby Throated Hummingbirds:

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb1_zps8e1f2f68.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb2_zpse1d81b6f.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb3_zps8766b819.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb4_zpsa19b3bff.jpg

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b456/archangel501/hb5_zps4247d6e9.jpg

These are awesome shots. We have 3-4 hummingbirds that frequent the sugar feeder and my wife's potted flowering plants. Of all the bird, the hummingbird is my favorite. Just an amazing creature.

[Jimbuna]

I hate spiders. I know they eat other bugs and all but some around my house are large enough to carry one off. No thanks!

The biggest I've come across in the UK had a 2" long body...not big by comparison with many another country but a monster in my opinion, especially in the UK :)

[August]

Found this on the internet. People saving animals. Makes you feel good about people for a change.

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/0_vhvemypw

[WernherVonTrapp]

Found this on the internet. People saving animals. Makes you feel good about people for a change.

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/0_vhvemypw
Good stuff.:up:
I once pulled a black Labrador Retriever out of a half-filled pool, while my partner kept the other pet, a barking Rottweiler at bay. The dog would've eventually tired, and then drowned. Despite being good swimmers, this one had no way out of the in-ground pool unless someone pulled him out. I had to lie on the ground (in my uniform), reach down and grab the dog under it's front paws (armpits on a human). I'm surprised it didn't bite my face off in the process.
Instead of citing the owners, I gave them a warning and never had to return.

[Jimbuna]

Found this on the internet. People saving animals. Makes you feel good about people for a change.

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/0_vhvemypw

Tremendous :sunny:

[AVGWarhawk]

Found this on the internet. People saving animals. Makes you feel good about people for a change.

http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/openGraph/wid/0_vhvemypw

I generally feel good about people because generally they are good. However, the news prefers to hand you the bad people who make you generally not like people as a whole.