1/12/13

This week has been great up until Friday when it got too warm, rainy and the snow melted.  On Thursday, while waiting for a 6th grade class to come out to the Popple Nature area, I was walking on the ice on the pond and saw something moving across the ice.  I thought it was a leaf blowing but then realized it was crawling/running.  I watched more and bellieve that it was a vole--bigger than a mouse.  I stopped and watched.  When I did that it turned, looked at me and probably thought "what is that big ugly thing--it is scary.  With that it turned around and desperately tried to burrow under the snow to keep out of sight.  Finally it reached the bank again and disappeared into the bursh.
I also found , what I think is a dead raccoon along the bank.  It had been there long enough so that the fur was almost completely off.  The toes were long and narrow and relatively small (not a badger) and the face was pretty small and pointy.  Inspite of the relative cold weather it was pretty stinky.
Gary

1/5/13

Snow is still here!  While walking through the woods, not on the trails, there are many deer paths, many deer beds, lots of scat and lots of pee.  I just hope the snow stays for a while--warm eather is predicted for this week.  I saw one deer  today and one Muskrat--he immediately went under a ledge and did not reappear.  The scent of Fox was very strong in spots today, mostly near town. 
I need a cheaper source of worms for the fish in the Nature Center--a $3.00 container lasts two feedings!  Where can I get cheaper worms?
Gary