Wild Neighbors

[Chip]

We have a herd of least chipmunks that look for the sunflower seeds spilled by the birds at the feeder. We've also had some golden-mantled ground squirrels (that nest under the hoods of autos and chew the wires) with some Richardson's ground squirrels (like a smaller, thinner prairie dog) in the shortgrass openings.

[Scrawler]

When I went out to dispose of coffee grounds this morning I saw that a juvenile groundhog has moved into the garden.

[Chip]

I've had a few pocket gophers. Also packrats, that clip off stems and leave them in neat stacks.

[Chip]

Yesterday there was a spectacular moth, Cecropia, the largest North American species, perched on the greenhouse.



Last year there was another in almost the same spot. It's too cold for their larval stage here, so it must be migrating.

[Chip]

We put orange halves in empty cans to draw Bullock's orioles—



They also draw Western Tanagers–



Here's a face-off–

[Chrissy]

Thank you Chip. What beautiful birds.

[forester]

Chip:

Thanks for sharing.

[joolstacho]

Wally4418opt.jpg
Wally Wallaby - pretty cheeky frequent visitor.

[Chip]

Not all critters are welcome. I just dismantled a huge nest of packrats that colonized a woodpile under our deck.

What a filthy mess they make. They also got into my sailboat, under the cover. Ugh!

I live-trapped one and transported it. Hoping to get the rest.

[Chip]

While I was having breakfast, a red fox trotted west across our place with a rabbit in its jaws, headed for the river.

Too quick to get a photo. Wonder if it has a den and kits nearby.