Loving Nature's Garden » Native Animals

Cute Bunny Alert!

Alison Kerr — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:51:39 +0000

Baby Bunny Pic #1

April and May can be very busy months in the garden. While I’ve been planting, digging, and building the birds and rabbits have been building, breeding, and feeding.

There’s much to tell and plenty of critters in the garden. Here’s the very cutest.

Darling Little Bunny

One day last week the cutest, sweetest, little baby bunny appeared in my back garden.

“Ooh, cuteness alert!” I shouted to my kids. I couldn’t take my eyes off that little furry bundle of sweetness which was hopping around my back concrete patio. I’ve never seen anything more adorable.

I was so transfixed that I had no thought to grab my camera.

Baby Bunny Pic #2

Bunny Comes Closer

Later that day bunny came even closer, right onto my back deck outside the kitchen window.

She hunkered down right next to my not-yet-planted woodland garden plants and began to look sleepy and close her eyes.

Bunny Gets Sleepy

As bunny closed her eyes, I woke up enough to grab my camera. Even my husband, a typical guy, who prefers chainsaws to cute bunnies, stopped and stared.

Bunny was feeling right at home there next to the native plants, so much so that I began to think her behavior very strange. “Do you think she’s OK?” I began to fret, images of animal rescue organizations flitting through my mind.

Baby Bunny Pic #3

Live Without Fear

Then baby bunny stretched out and fully relaxed just a few feet from my window, right there in front of me.

That’s living without fear!

She didn’t lay there for long though; she must have got hungry. It was then I learned why she felt so happy next to my plants.

Bunny Takes a Bite

While I was still oohing and aahing over her, she reached up and began to nibble one of my woodland plants, the one on the left.

Now I’m all for cuteness, but I do have my limits. Learn fear little bunny – I just paid $7 for that plant and it’s a baby too! As soon as I opened the door, she was gone. I could relax, she clearly was not sick, and my plants were safe… for now.

What’s happening in your garden? Are your plants safe from the rabbits? Check back later this week for How to Protect Plants from Rabbits.

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Benjamin Rabbit Defends

Alison Kerr — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:14:27 +0000

I’ve been learning some great nature gardening tips from Carole Brown over at Ecosystem Gardening. If you’re wondering what to do with all the sticks which fall from the trees in your yard, Carole has the answer. Make a brush pile.

So, after the most recent storm, when a whole pile-worth of sticks fell down onto the grass in my garden, I made a brush pile. Now I’m enjoying the critters who visit. I made a cute rabbit video (my first ever video). I hope you enjoy Benjamin Rabbit Defends.

And for my regular readers there’s a little surprise at the end – what happened to Alison?

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Hello Skunk!

Alison Kerr — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:09:29 +0000

wet baby skunk by Out at Bob's

One day you find a skunk under your deck. What do you do? Do you say, “Hello, cute little skunk. I’m so glad you have moved into my nature garden.” Or, “Little skunk, I know you’re part of nature, but you must find another home. Not in my back yard!”

One morning last week, and again the same evening, there was a very noisy critter on my back deck. It really sounded like something large bumbling about. I put on my nature detective cap and came up with the following possibilities of who might have moved in: groundhog (not, because they feed in the daytime); possum (possible – I know they’re in my neighborhood); skunk (hopefully not); raccoon or fox (both are in my neighborhood, but I’ve seen no signs of them in my yard).

I wasn’t really too excited about the idea that there could be a skunk out there under the deck. I mean, what would I do? Fortunately for me there was still snow around so I went out to have a good look for footprints. I came back in with several photos. After trying to match them with all of the above critters, I’m not sure if I was relieved, or disappointed, to decide that all I’d found were squirrel prints.

So, the squirrels in my yard are apparently trying to raid the squirrel-proof feeder at dawn and after dusk just to see if that’s different from daytime. That’s what I decided the loud noise was – squirrels leaping onto the metal feeder. It would have been nice to have a possum, but a skunk I’m not so sure about.

Have you ever had a skunk in your garden? Are skunks beyond your limit when it comes to back yard nature? Are you hoping never to find out?

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Voles Like to Play Outdoors

Alison Kerr — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:35:23 +0000

Who made this track?

Many small animals hibernate for the winter. Chipmunks gather lots of food, then hibernate, or stay indoors. Mice try to move inside. Voles like to play outdoors in winter.

Whom do you think made the track, or runway, you see here? Was it a vole?

Winter Gardens Full of Life

I discovered this little animal track, or runway, on Sunday after the Kansas snow melted in my backyard garden.

While little kids are low to the ground and find lots of interesting stuff, as an adult I need nature to be just a bit more glaring to attract my attention. This track was obvious – well defined.

Animal tracks can take a little detective work. When I first found this track I was surprised, then delighted, then curious about who made it.

Who Would Be Out Under the Snow?

My first thought was that a mouse had been running back and forth under the snow. But something wasn’t quite right with this picture. The track, or run, isn’t just a bare spot on the surface of the dirt. It’s actually dug down into the turf, among the grass roots.

A quick check on the list of Kansas mammals turned up several possibilities. I’m going with the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus, as my best guess because: voles like to eat grass; and (from the meadow vole information at that last link), “In spring, after the protective layer of snow disappears, runways that have been established on the ground beneath the snow are clearly evident.”

Now all I need is a wildlife night camera and maybe I could get a photo of the little guy in action. Wouldn’t that be fun? Have you ever seen a vole?

Spy on nature in your garden with a nature cam and find books about North American mammals at Amazon.com

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Foiling Squirrels At Your Feeders

Alison Kerr — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:52:41 +0000

Caught Red-Handed! (Red-Pawed?) by Di_the_huntress

Raise your hand if a squirrel has ever raided your birdfeeder. What, you too? Seems when winter comes and squirrels are hungry those cheeky rascals will go to great lengths to plunder birdseed from feeders. Debi Huang, author at Go Explore Nature is having this challenge and she asked for help.

Squirrels aren’t visiting the feeders in my backyard; herein lie some clues to keeping the birdseeds for the birds.

Boing, Boing Branches

While squirrels are excellent climbers and jumpers I never see them hanging out at the end of branches. They’ll walk tightropes (people have given them this challenge just for fun) and jump from tree to tree but they’re too heavy for the last 2-3 feet or so of tree branches. Unless of course you know different…

Lightweight feeders, such as suet holders, can be hung on slim branches, which might be enough to keep off those sticky squirrel paws. Other lightweight feeders to hang at the tips of branches are peanut butter pine cones, in-shell peanut garlands, and home-made milk carton feeders.

Teensy, Tiny Seeds

Those hungry squirrels like something to get their teeth into. They seem to love stuff like sunflower seeds in the shells, peanuts, and corn. They don’t seem to care much for small seeds.

Nyjer and thistle seeds are tiny. I’ve never seen the squirrels in my yard bother trying to get to the nyjer seed feeder.

A Squirrel-Style Harvest

You know the story about squirrels burying acorns? When there is plenty of natural food for squirrels there’s less need for them to raid the birdfeeder. This year my white oak tree had a bumper harvest – more than enough acorns to feed the squirrels in my neighborhood this winter. I’ve also given the squirrels hedge apples to chew on, which were free, and they love them.

When you are choosing trees and shrubs for your garden consider the needs of native animals and wild birds. Plant native vegetation to provide nuts, acorns and berries and the wildlife in your backyard will be less dependent on birdfeeders and just as much fun, no, make that “more”.

Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders

The array of commercially produced squirrel-proof bird feeders is both dazzling and a testament to the ingenuity of both designers and squirrels on raids. There are peanut feeders with cage wires small enough for birds to fit through which exclude squirrels, there are sunflower and mixed seed feeders that slide closed under the weight of a squirrel, baffles to stop squirrels climbing poles, and even feeders than spin and tip to toss squirrels off.

If you want to make your own squirrel-proof feeder, here’s how from Instructables.

If you’re in the market to purchase, I recommend both Droll Yankee and Heritage Farms bird feeders which are both available from Duncraft. Both Heritage Farms feeders and Droll Yankee feeders are made in the USA and they are very sturdy and will last for years. Heritage Farms use recycled plastic for some of their feeders and Droll Yankee uses FSC certified materials and has a published sustainability policy.

Have the squirrels been pestering your feeders? How did you foil them?

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Squirrel Tracks in the Snow

Alison Kerr — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:32:26 +0000

Squirrel Tracks by OakleyOriginals

What could be more fun on a winter morning than finding animal footprints in the snow? Here’s some help with identifying tracks – outdoor nature fun for the kid in you.

Who Made That Track?

Pictured here are some squirrel tracks in the snow, but, unless you saw Sammy Squirrel make them, how would you know who made those cute little tracks?

You Can Learn Tracking

Here’s a handy dandy down-loadable guide to animal tracks from the Outdoor Action folks at Princeton. Print off, laminate, offer it to your kids, pack it in your pocket. Head out for a hike, or just be a nature detective when you’re making snowmen in your own nature garden.

More Animal Footprint Fun

You might need to know which animals are local to you. Use the E-Nature Zip Guide to get a list of native animals for your area. Once you’ve studied your tracking cards try the Tracking Game at Northwest Woodman. The tracks are realistic and shown in mud so they’re good practice – mud tracks can be found all year but they are harder to identify.

Do you like to play in the snow? Have you seen any animal tracks in your nature garden?

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Favorite Backyard Critters Contest

Alison Kerr — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:07:49 +0000

Many critters can be found in your backyard, whether you have are deliberately gardening for nature or not. There are cool critters, strange critters, amusing critters, cute critters, and maybe even scary critters. But which 3 critters, or animals, are your favorites?

Register your vote in the Favorite Backyard Critters Contest, which is open until November 3rd. Tell your friends to come and vote too. The winning critters will be featured in the new Loving Nature’s Garden logo.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Douglas Tallamy and the Spun Glass Slug Caterpillar

Alison Kerr — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:44:34 +0000

Wow! Take a look at this amazing caterpillar which can be found on oak leaves.

I wrote yesterday and asked Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, to nominate a favorite backyard critter. Here is his reply:

“I have many favorites, but one might be the spun glass slug caterpillar. I have attached a picture. I collect them at my house on oak leaves.”

Who need aliens when weird and amazing creatures like this can be found in our own backyard nature gardens? Thanks Douglas. The spun glass slug caterpillar will have a place in the favorite backyard animal contest which is due to start tomorrow. Nominations close tonight at midnight Eastern USA time – there’s still time to add another critter to the list.

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Make Like a Kansas Possum and Prepare for a Prairie Winter

Alison Kerr — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:20:46 +0000

a possum in a crabapple tree by normanack

Look at that cute possum visiting his local crabapple tree for a winter snack. I doubt he’s a Kansas prairie opossum, but he could be, bear with me.

Preparing for Winter

Let’s say you want a quick lesson in preparing for winter. What lessons can you learn from a Kansas possum?

Eat Local – location, location

When you can’t visit the grocery store, location is everything. You won’t find a Kansas opossum roaming the wide open prairie, but you might find him in a garden. He likes berries, insects, and small animals to eat. He needs food close-by because he can’t drive – all of his food is local.

Make like a Kansas opossum and seek out local food sources. Walking to the grocery store is environmentally friendly, handy when the roads are bad, and fun in the snow. Get your boots ready. If you’re in the market for a new home consider city walkscore.

Keep Those Ears Warm – insulate

Possums don’t like to be out in the cold. Like us their ears have no fur and are at risk of frostbite. Possums can’t knit tail warmers and ear muffs so they stay inside at night when it’s freezing.

Make like a Kansas possum and go outside on warm days in winter. Take time to explore and be part of nature. And while you’re inside, enjoy your cozy nest – blankets, sweaters and home insulation save energy. Use the 2009 30% tax credit on insulation installation.

Recycle, don’t waste, take care

Possums aren’t fussy eaters. They’ll eat carrion, get in your trash given the chance, and often get run over while eating dead animals. Ewww…

Make like a possum and don’t waste food. Make sure the food you eat is safe though! Leftovers make good meal starters – try serving leftover stir-fry as a stuffing for wraps. And when you’re out walking cross the road safely unlike opossums; teach your kids safe rules of the road.

What are you doing to prepare for winter? Does it get really cold where you live? Have you ever seen a possum?

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Kansas Fall

Alison Kerr — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:30:11 +0000

Eastern Chipmunk by Gilles Gonthier

It’s time to prepare for winter. At least the chipmunks and squirrels in my back yard think so. This year the white oak tree has produced a massive crop of acorns – I’ve never seen it produce so many. But until last Friday the animals completely ignored the acorns, letting them fall and lie untouched on the grass. Where were the squirrels who should be hiding acorns? Where was the cute, hyper little chipmunk who always appears in fall?

Suddenly, on Friday the chipmunk appeared and the squirrels got busy. Fall is here in Eastern Kansas. The animals know it. I sit at the kitchen table distracted by their antics. Squirrels climb head first down the swing set frame, then back up again, bushy tails twitching. The chipmunk races across the patio, his cheeks bulging to a grotesque degree. He hyper-leaps through the grass. He must have a good stash by now. On Friday I saw him every few minutes, today, not so much. The squirrels are playing tag up and down the cedar picket fence and across the oak branches as I write.

Yes, fall is here, the animals know it. It’s time to slow down (that’s me), or speed up (that’s the animals), start preparing for winter (all of us), and get out the knitting needles (me)! What do you do when fall comes?

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