Wildlife & Related

[Hummer]

My daughter keeps asking me to ask Steve about the otters.

We saw otter tracks and slides last winter but no animals here since. Did watch an otter at Beaver Reservoir on April 27, and our first ever mink over the snow on the river from the house on March 27. Haven't seen otters at Beaver Reservoir since. Looked yesterday. The lake is higher than I've seen in many years. Lots of water this year is great.

We have four dippers in the nest box now. They'll fledge in another week. The first since the 2013 flood. Always good fun.

[Irving]

Having seen those dippers in person, those are cool to have around.

[Hummer]

Having seen those dippers in person, those are cool to have around.

You should see them soon, before they fledge. I might band the chicks tomorrow. Your family and Chick N will get an invite to our Moose Packing Party July 21.

[Hummer]

I've seen several moose recently, a cow with newborn calf a ways up canyon, and two big bulls near Brainard yesterday. This evening I walked through the forest to a small meadow a hundred yards from the cabin and came upon a yearling bull. At first he spooked and sprinted ten yards. I gave a soft bull grunt and he returned walking within about six yards of me. I mimicked feeding on shrubs, shaking them a bit. He walked a bit closer feeding along the way. I was just another, funny looking moose.

[Irving]

I think that a mark of woods experience, is knowing when you can be loud (i.e. sounding like an animal doing loud animal things).

[Hummer]

Here's a shot this morning of the young bull I spotted last night. He's munching on young aspen trees.

[henpecked]

[ChickNorris]

There is a semi large bull snake I'm probably going to need to relocate from my mother's property in the next week if it keeps trying to share the patio with the dogs. She's not (usually) prone to exaggeration & said it was as long as the oversized loveseat plus some... so likely 55" or more.

I'll try & get a picture before I catch it. : )

[Irving]

How come no one eats any snakes besides rattlesnakes? I think you should start a trend. I'd take a bull snake, but it'd probably bother my chickens.

[ChickNorris]

Id prefer not to hurt it since its pretty useful to control wee critters. Unfortunately it's just big enough to be a pest on its own.