Author Topic: Backyard critters  (Read 104385 times)

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Offline blue911

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #150: May 03, 2012, 11:30:31 AM »
Hens don't need roosters to lay eggs, so a lesbian hen would lay eggs.

Says you Mr. Chipmunk Haterz

Offline Ali the Baseball Cat

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #151: May 03, 2012, 11:30:34 AM »
There's a mating pair of Canada geese right outside my office window out in the Rockville Pike wilderness.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #152: May 03, 2012, 01:06:42 PM »
There's a mating pair of Canada geese right outside my office window out in the Rockville Pike wilderness.

If they were real geese they'd be en-route to the Arctic Circle right now.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #153: May 04, 2012, 08:58:40 AM »
today I had to take my dog to the vet.  She was bit by a snake

I would think the only snake around here that can do significant damage to a dog is a copperhead.  Did you ID it?

Offline Terpfan76

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #154: May 04, 2012, 11:29:35 AM »
I would think the only snake around here that can do significant damage to a dog is a copperhead.  Did you ID it?

Timber Rattlesnakes are also native to the state although mostly in the mountainous areas.




Copperhead





source http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/vsnakes.asp

Offline 1995hoo

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #155: May 10, 2012, 11:21:26 AM »
Man, this thread makes our little friend seem a lot less interesting. He's been showing up just about every day since around Thanksgiving 2011 and he stares patiently at us until we feed him. Our deck sometimes turns into a complete mess as he leaves peanut shells all over the place.


Offline Kevrock

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #156: May 10, 2012, 11:32:41 AM »
Our squirrels are so fat from stealing bird seed. At some point the fox will take notice.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #157: May 10, 2012, 12:40:34 PM »
We have a bat that has taken up residence in our attic.

 :?

Offline GburgNatsFan

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #158: May 10, 2012, 12:43:30 PM »
We have a vixen raising young in our yard, basically on peanut-marbled squirrel meat.

This is twisted logic, but the peanut feeder is there to keep the squirrels off the woodpecker-mix feeder, which for all intents and purposes is unsalted, unroasted trail mix. It has raisins, golden raisins, and cranberries in it, along with the expensive nut blend my wife insists the woodpeckers need to thrive and raise woodpecker babies.

Our squirrels are so fat from stealing bird seed. At some point the fox will take notice.


Offline GburgNatsFan

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #159: May 10, 2012, 12:48:10 PM »
Ouch. You don't want that to continue. I mean, bats like colonies, right?
We have a bat that has taken up residence in our attic.

 :?


Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #160: May 10, 2012, 12:50:06 PM »
Ouch. You don't want that to continue. I mean, bats like colonies, right?

Yes.  Rabies, and guano too.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #161: May 10, 2012, 06:21:57 PM »
Upon close inspection, the bat is not actually inside, but rather tucked in between the louvered vent and a screen there to keep critters out.  Unfortunately, he is depositing waste products into the vent frame with some slight trickle inside so he's going to have to go, but at least the screen is secure and at present he is not able to get inside fully.


Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #162: May 10, 2012, 06:23:39 PM »
Timber Rattlesnakes are also native to the state although mostly in the mountainous areas.

(Image removed from quote.)


Copperhead


(Image removed from quote.)


source http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/vsnakes.asp

We don't have rattlesnakes in the greater DC area except for maybe a few along the low mountain ridges west of Leesburg/Gainesville.  And any there would be exceptionally rare.

Copperheads however are common throughout the region, even in DC itself.

Offline The Chief

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #163: May 10, 2012, 06:49:01 PM »
Man, this thread makes our little friend seem a lot less interesting. He's been showing up just about every day since around Thanksgiving 2011 and he stares patiently at us until we feed him. Our deck sometimes turns into a complete mess as he leaves peanut shells all over the place.

(Image removed from quote.)

How close does he let you get?

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #164: May 10, 2012, 08:46:31 PM »
Man, this thread makes our little friend seem a lot less interesting. He's been showing up just about every day since around Thanksgiving 2011 and he stares patiently at us until we feed him. Our deck sometimes turns into a complete mess as he leaves peanut shells all over the place.

(Image removed from quote.)

Why feed a wild animal?  It's not really helpful to them in the long run.

Offline GburgNatsFan

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #165: May 10, 2012, 09:10:09 PM »
It's interesting to watch sometimes.
Why feed a wild animal?  It's not really helpful to them in the long run.


Offline Kevrock

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #166: May 10, 2012, 09:12:22 PM »
Why feed a wild animal?  It's not really helpful to them in the long run.

How about birds? Feeding birds is a blast. Such a nice variety in Oakton.

Just got my first hummingbird at my hummingbird feeder. :az:

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #167: May 10, 2012, 09:13:08 PM »
It's interesting to watch sometimes.

My philosophy is to let wild animals remain wild.  It's in their interest, and yours. 

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #168: May 10, 2012, 09:14:35 PM »
How about birds? Feeding birds is a blast. Such a nice variety in Oakton.

Just got my first hummingbird at my hummingbird feeder. :az:


Ok, you got me on that one.

We have lots of goldfinches in our area, and rarely a flock of bluebirds will pass through.  Fortunately, no Orioles or Ravens .

 8)

Offline GburgNatsFan

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #169: May 10, 2012, 09:15:57 PM »
I could get season tickets for the amount my wife spends on bird food.

Offline Nathan

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #170: May 10, 2012, 09:17:03 PM »
My philosophy is to let wild animals remain wild.  It's in their interest, and yours. 


Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #171: May 10, 2012, 09:18:52 PM »
Ok, maybe one little ham sandwich wouldn't hurt.

Offline Kevrock

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #172: May 10, 2012, 09:26:17 PM »
We had a goldfinch today drinking at the bird bath. Such bright yellow. I see those rarely, but we have some purple finches that come around often. I've only seen a bluebird once so far.

We have had a pileated woodpecker eating our suet lately. She's massive.

I have seen a single Oriole, but not at my house -- while driving around Oakton.

What I regularly see: Bluejays, titmice, chickadees, juncos, finches, woodpeckers (downy and red-belly), cardinals. I have the bird-feeder and suet cage hanging outside my kitchen window and it keeps me really entertained. The chickadees get pissed when the feeder gets empty. :lol:

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #173: May 10, 2012, 09:34:13 PM »
Orioles love orange, or grape jelly.

Just put a flat platform out and half an orange, slathered with grape jelly.  Orioles aren't common but if they find it they'll establish it as a feeding stop.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Backyard critters
« Reply #174: May 10, 2012, 09:35:01 PM »
We had a goldfinch today drinking at the bird bath. Such bright yellow. I see those rarely, but we have some purple finches that come around often. I've only seen a bluebird once so far.

We have had a pileated woodpecker eating our suet lately. She's massive.

I have seen a single Oriole, but not at my house -- while driving around Oakton.

What I regularly see: Bluejays, titmice, chickadees, juncos, finches, woodpeckers (downy and red-belly), cardinals. I have the bird-feeder and suet cage hanging outside my kitchen window and it keeps me really entertained. The chickadees get pissed when the feeder gets empty. :lol:

No bats, huh.    :lol: