Red-Shouldered Hawk

We spotted this Red-Shouldered Hawk down near the pond and stream.  He was looking for something to eat, although nothing is out yet as the water has just thawed after a very long, cold, winter.

Opossum

This opossum was here about 3:30 this afternoon looking for food after our latest snowstorm was finished dumping another 6+ inches.  He was first over at the deer feed and then made his way around the house to bird feeders.

Garter Snake In Late December

Almost stepped on this garter snake in the front yard today. For December 22 it is unusually warm today (63 degrees), and the warm weather undoubtedly brought him out of his winter hiding place.

8 Point Buck

A beautiful 8 point buck came to the property this morning.  He eat his corn next to resident doe, Blaze, without bothering her which was a surprise because it is mating season.   He has been here before in previous years and is probably the father of some of our resident deer.

Pie and Pip

Had a visit today from resident deer, Pie, and her young fawn buck, Pip.   Here are a couple of pictures while they were waiting for their afternoon snack!!

Pip and his mother, Pie

Resident deer, Pie

Pie's fawn, Pip

Pip

Pip and Pie

Do Woolly Bear Caterpillars Forecast Winter Weather?

According to legend, the wider that middle brown section is (i.e., the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter. But is it true?

• Between 1948 and 1956, Dr. Curran's average brown-segment counts ranged from 5.3 to 5.6 out of the 13-segment total, meaning that the brown band took up more than a third of the woolly bear's body. As those relatively high numbers suggested, the corresponding winters were milder than average.
• Woolly bears, like other caterpillars, hatch during warm weather from eggs laid by a female moth.
• Mature woolly bears search for overwintering sites under bark or inside cavities of rocks or logs. (That's why you see so many of them crossing roads and sidewalks in the fall.)

• This medium-size moth, with yellowish-orange and cream-colored wings spotted with black, is common from northern Mexico throughout the United States and across the southern third of Canada.

A True Survivor

This buck first appeared at the feeding area last winter but it was heartbreaking to see him struggle through the snow because he has either a broken leg or dislocated shoulder of his front leg.   He flops his front leg out when he walks and cannot put much pressure on it but he seems to have adapted to this injury.  He also seems to have deformed antlers and I'm not sure if it is a genetic or nutritional issue (although he looks healthy).   It is a testament to his strength and determination that he has survived. 

From the University of Missouri: 

Antler deformations can also be caused by leg injuries, which often result from deer-vehicle accidents. Front leg injuries coincide with antler deformation on the same side as the injury — a front left leg injury will affect the left antler. Rear leg injuries coincide with antler deformation on the opposite side — a rear left leg injury will affect the right antler. Depending on the severity, injuries to the leg may result in deformations to the antler in consecutive years or the deer may make a full recovery. The biological mechanism controlling this relationship between leg injuries and antler deformations is not fully understood but is thought to be associated with reallocating nutrients toward healing the leg injury, instead of antler growth.