Author Topic: Backyard critters (Read 117262 times)

blue911 · « **Reply #150:** May 03, 2012, 11:30:31 AM »

Quote from: Kevrock on May 03, 2012, 11:27:42 AM

Hens don't need roosters to lay eggs, so a lesbian hen would lay eggs.

Says you Mr. Chipmunk Haterz

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **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.

tomterp · « **Reply #152:** May 03, 2012, 01:06:42 PM »

Quote from: Ali the Baseball Cat on 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.

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

tomterp · « **Reply #153:** May 04, 2012, 08:58:40 AM »

Quote from: EdStroud on May 03, 2012, 02:08:24 PM

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?

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #154:** May 04, 2012, 11:29:35 AM »

Quote from: tomterp on May 04, 2012, 08:58:40 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

1995hoo · « **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.

Kevrock · « **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.

tomterp · « **Reply #157:** May 10, 2012, 12:40:34 PM »

We have a bat that has taken up residence in our attic.

GburgNatsFan · « **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.

Quote from: Kevrock on May 10, 2012, 11:32:41 AM

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

GburgNatsFan · « **Reply #159:** May 10, 2012, 12:48:10 PM »

Ouch. You don't want that to continue. I mean, bats like colonies, right?

Quote from: tomterp on May 10, 2012, 12:40:34 PM

We have a bat that has taken up residence in our attic.

tomterp · « **Reply #160:** May 10, 2012, 12:50:06 PM »

Quote from: GburgNatsFan on May 10, 2012, 12:48:10 PM

Ouch. You don't want that to continue. I mean, bats like colonies, right?

Yes. Rabies, and guano too.

tomterp · « **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.

tomterp · « **Reply #162:** May 10, 2012, 06:23:39 PM »

Quote from: Terpfan76 on May 04, 2012, 11:29:35 AM

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.

The Chief · « **Reply #163:** May 10, 2012, 06:49:01 PM »

Quote from: 1995hoo on 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.

(Image removed from quote.)

How close does he let you get?

tomterp · « **Reply #164:** May 10, 2012, 08:46:31 PM »

Quote from: 1995hoo on 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.

(Image removed from quote.)

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

GburgNatsFan · « **Reply #165:** May 10, 2012, 09:10:09 PM »

It's interesting to watch sometimes.

Quote from: tomterp on May 10, 2012, 08:46:31 PM

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

Kevrock · « **Reply #166:** May 10, 2012, 09:12:22 PM »

Quote from: tomterp on May 10, 2012, 08:46:31 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.

tomterp · « **Reply #167:** May 10, 2012, 09:13:08 PM »

Quote from: GburgNatsFan on May 10, 2012, 09:10:09 PM

It's interesting to watch sometimes.

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

tomterp · « **Reply #168:** May 10, 2012, 09:14:35 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on May 10, 2012, 09:12:22 PM

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

Just got my first hummingbird at my hummingbird feeder.

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 .

GburgNatsFan · « **Reply #169:** May 10, 2012, 09:15:57 PM »

I could get season tickets for the amount my wife spends on bird food.

Nathan · « **Reply #170:** May 10, 2012, 09:17:03 PM »

Quote from: tomterp on May 10, 2012, 09:13:08 PM

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

tomterp · « **Reply #171:** May 10, 2012, 09:18:52 PM »

Ok, maybe one little ham sandwich wouldn't hurt.

Kevrock · « **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.

tomterp · « **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.

tomterp · « **Reply #174:** May 10, 2012, 09:35:01 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on 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.

No bats, huh.