Scenes from my backyard

[Donna]

Deer are so pretty, thanks Ei!

[Dumpsterkitty]

While I was looking out the back window today I caught a few visitors...

               

Mr. Squirrel chillin'               Some of the Juncos are particularly dark this year

     

Movement on the hill caught my eye...

       

The whole herd had come racing down the hill.  I think I count 11.
There were 3 more off to the right and 2 more still coming down the hill.   



This one stopped to say Hi! on her way through.

Ei

[Aafke]

Thanks Ei,  you are so lucky to have  so many animals in your garden, specially the deer!
greetings Aafke

[MAK]

 

[Kris G.]

Nice pics! We have deer that come in our backyard too but we don't see them so much in winter- just their tracks.  In summer, we see them in the field next to our house-they get into our garden and have ruined a few trees.

[Dumpsterkitty]

And today's interesting chapter...I decided to buy some whole peanuts for the squirrels, hoping it would slow them down a bit in trying to raid the seed feeders.  I didn't get a picture of the first taker-a tufted titmouse! 

A little while later one of the squirrels finally took a nut...



...and promptly buried it in the snow!

[Donna]

That is just so cute Ei! 

[Annette]

That squirrel is so cute!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Today's deer watch started at 0:dark:30-there was just enough light to make out these 2 resting in my yard...

   
(fill light added)

Then later this morning this cutie stopped by...



And for the past half hour I've been watching a 3 legged deer work its way up the hill.  I didn't get a good picture because I didn't want to get too close to the window and spook it.  I didn't want to see it struggle to try and run.  Then a branch snapped in the wind and it ran up the hill just fine.  Other than missing part of a back leg, it looks perfectly healthy.  Amazing.

[MAK]

What a cute face on that second pic Ei. Thanks for sharing!

[Donna]

What a cute face on that second pic Ei. Thanks for sharing!

Very cute...poor 3 legged, they learn!

[Dumpsterkitty]

What a cute face on that second pic Ei. Thanks for sharing!

Very cute...poor 3 legged, they learn!

I saw it earlier this winter not long after it broke the leg.  I figured it wouldn't make it through the winter.  I'm happy to see I was wrong.

And that face is precious!

[Patti from Kentucky]

I saw it earlier this winter not long after it broke the leg.  I figured it wouldn't make it through the winter.  I'm happy to see I was wrong.

I would guess that handicapped animals, as long as the disability doesn't interfere too much with the ability to forage, or doesn't set them up at risk for infection, etc., probably do relatively well in the absence of predators.  So as long as you don't have coyotes, wolves, bears, or other predators hanging around, he may continue to do just fine.  It seems like it's predation that separates the fit from the unfit.

[Dumpsterkitty]

I saw it earlier this winter not long after it broke the leg.  I figured it wouldn't make it through the winter.  I'm happy to see I was wrong.

I would guess that handicapped animals, as long as the disability doesn't interfere too much with the ability to forage, or doesn't set them up at risk for infection, etc., probably do relatively well in the absence of predators.  So as long as you don't have coyotes, wolves, bears, or other predators hanging around, he may continue to do just fine.  It seems like it's predation that separates the fit from the unfit.

I don't have many predators in my immediate vicinity, but there are some in the deeper woods these herds travel to.  I guess he's been lucky so far, particularly not picking up an infection when the broken part finally fell off.  He is keeping up with his herd, so I'll let you know if I see him again.

[Dumpsterkitty]

For those who may be wondering what delicacy brings so many deer to my yard...



...vinca minor (periwinkle)!  The hill is covered in it!