'Red Squirrel'

'Red Squirrel'

Throwing rocks at a chiding squirrel,
I prefer the 'shotgun method'.

Bill Pocock, 2009

Turtle Up

Yesterday, whilst trudging along a backcountry road, I came across an overturned turtle at the side of the road.

At first I thought it was dead, but then I saw the head and legs-a-movin'. I guess it got flipped like a beer cap by a passing car and struggled in vain to right itself.

So, I was happy to play god, flip it over with my foot and be back on my way. Didn't even thank me.... Anyhoo, my good deed for the day momentarily interrupting my otherwise evil doing.

RIP Bat

Killed a bat today.

I was moving a loose stack of lumber and discovered the bat in the midst of the pile, screeching in agony from being crushed.

So, it was a mercy kill to bash its head in with a cement block. Better to end the suffering quickly.

On the other hand, I did pick up a garter snake from the path of an excavator and was rewarded with snake excrement all over my hands. But I'll take that over blood.

Deer, Yaup....

Being around the semi-tame Deerwood inhabitants for a while, I can get pretty casual about it all.

The building inspector came by today and passed the wood stove for the forest management office. The usual deer were in the parking area as Ernie arrived and he expressed his amazement in hushed tones as they stood twenty feet away, waiting for us to leave. "Oh, yeah", I said.

Sorta miss the thrill I used to get.... Wow! look, deer!

Earlier today I came across three mature female deer and two fawns along a Deerwood trail. The dominant female took point, with the young female fawn bringing up the rear. Walking in a line about thirty feet apart, they just stepped off the trail and waited for me to pass. I said my usual, "Hey, howsitgoin'" so they know everything's cool.

Moose Sighting

Was driving down the Deerwood road early yesterday morning and come across a young male moose on the road.

The moose turned tail and trotted ahead of the car, turning into the woods just before the gate.

I was hoping that I'd get to see it jump the gate, but no dice.

Dragonflies Rule!

Dragonflies freaked me out as a kid. They're so huge and the thought of them biting me gave me the willies.

Now I know that dragonflies eat mosquitoes and other insects that really do want to bite me.

The other day a dragonfly zoomed over my head and landed on a rock nearby. I took a closer look and realized it had caught and was now eating a horsefly that was about to land on me. It was great fun to see the dragonfly close-up as it rolled the horse fly around it's mouth slowly eating its prey.

Here's part of the Dragonfly Wiki entry...

A dragonfly is a type of insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Even though dragonflies possess 6 legs like any other insect, they are not capable of walking.

Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic.

Nymphs can deliver a painful bite when threatened. The wound should be cleaned thoroughly to prevent water-borne infections.

Dragonflies Rule!

Chainsaw vs. Mountain Lion!

Seeing as I'm in a defending myself against wild animals mood, I was much amused by an Associated Press article:

Ex-Marine uses chain saw to fend off attacking mountain lion

So, that's pretty awesome, right? Mountain lion, AKA cougar, AKA puma. Here's some choice lines....

Dustin Britton, a 32-year-old mechanic and ex-Marine from Windsor, Col., said he was alone cutting firewood about 30 metres from his campsite in the Shoshone National Forest about 43 kilometres west of Cody when he saw the 45-kilogram lion staring at him from some bushes.

The 6-foot-tall, 170-pound Mr. Britton said he raised his chain saw and met the lion head-on as it pounced — a collision he described as feeling like a grown man running directly into him.

“It batted me three or four times with its front paws and as quick as I hit it with that saw it just turned away,” he said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

The SARO List

Ever wonder what plant and animal species are at risk in Ontario?

Check out the Species At Risk in Ontario (SARO) list.

Here's the write up on the Northern Cricket Frog...

Features: Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitanis) is a small, rough-skinned member of the Tree Frog Family. The toe pads which are a characteristic of tree frogs are not well developed in this subspecies. It is normally brown or gray in colour and has a distinctive V-shaped marking between the eyes. The call is said to resemble the sound of "pebbles clicking together." This subspecies is more highly aquatic than other North American tree frogs. After the breeding season, it remains in shoreline areas of marshes, ponds and streams, and can often be found in emergent aquatic plants bordering these sources of permanent water.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: This subspecies has an extensive distribution in its United States range, which extends from Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky west to South Dakota, and south through Texas into northern Mexico. Although considered abundant in parts of this range, it has declined in some areas. The subspecies is likely extirpated in Ontario. Confirmed records for the province exist from Point Pelee, Essex County, where the first Ontario specimen was taken in 1913, and from Pelee Island. Range Maps

Threats: Habitat loss resulting from drainage, dredging and landfill was responsible, in part, for the decline of Northern Cricket Frog in Ontario. Natural flooding which occurred over the winter of 1972 was likely responsible for the disappearance of Northern Cricket Frogs at one site, and may have affected other sites on the Island. In addition, introduced, non-native Carp (Cyprinus carpio) which eat Cricket Frog larvae gained access to the frogs' breeding ponds during periods of high water. Since the apparent disappearance of the Cricket Frog on Pelee, the highly predatory Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) has increased dramatically at the last known Cricket Frog site, which decreases chances of a recovery, should a small population remain.

Protection: Northern Cricket Frog is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species and its habitat. A recovery plan, sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, has been developed.

Text Sources: Oldham and Campbell 1990; Cook 1984

Fissin' Season

Master fisherman, my buddy Steve came up for some backcountry camping and fishing this weekend. So, I figured, what the hey, why not get some pointers from da man.

Thanks to Master Steve, I landed a 5 lb, 20 inch small mouth bass yesterday on Blackstone Lake.

Lucky for this guy it wasn't bass season for another two weeks.
Back in the lake you go!

The dude, Eric, who's boat we went out on caught a 51 1/2 inch muskie last week and I saw the pictures to prove it. It looked like a dragon, remarked Master Steve.

Eric was still 'celebrating' the muskie catch all day on the boat. The fishing day was pretty much over when ol' Eric accidentally jumped off the boat - but managed to hold onto his rod.

Gone fissin'.

Death of a Disco Chipmunk

Just in case dear reader thought it was all fun and games here in the forest, I give you the death of a disco chipmunk...

Former chipmunk.

This here chipmunk danced too close to a car or ATV one too many times and wound up dead.

Life and death is abundant in the forest - and on the road, it seems.

Case of the Missing Feed Bucket

DEERWOOD - This morning between the hours of 5:30 and 6:00 AM a daring deer feed bucket heist was perpetrated by bear(s) unknown.

Shirley Pocock, Deerwood owner, was roused from sleep at approximately 5:30 am by Smokey the Cat who wanted to go outside. When Mrs. Pocock let the cat out, she observed two young deer (Scaredy, well known to locals, and another). Mrs. Pocock filled said white plastic feed bucket (containing dried corn, oats, and sunflower seeds) and left it outside for the deer to eat.

When Mrs. Pocock next looked outside half and hour later the deer and the bucket had disappeared.

"It must have been that damn bear!", remarked Mrs. Pocock. It was determined that the deer would not abscond with the bucket as Mrs. Pocock provides the deer with a bottomless supply of feed from the bucket - as long as she knows where it is. The deer, who know the deal, may be dumb, but they're not stupid. Scaredy, while not a suspect, is wanted for questioning.

A subsequent search of the immediate forest area failed to recover the feed bucket. There was no trail of feed into the forest as it is believed Scaredy & Co. ate the evidence before investigators arrived on the scene.

Bear - Paw Print and Scat

I was clearing trail in the middle of Deerwood yesterday and came across another bear scat and a paw print this time.

Bear paw pint (outlined in white) and bear scat (right) in Deerwood.

The print (rear paw?) was about the size of my hand (7" x 4"). That's bigger than the partial prints on the door. Though if it's the same bear, the front paws would be smaller than the back paws...I think....

If anyone of both my blog readers knows of a chart to match the size of a bear paw print to the size of the bear, um, please let me know.

Scaredy Deer

All but a lone dear - Scaredy Deer - have wandered off into the woods and left the feed troughs behind for the summer.

Scaredy Deer seems to no longer roll with the herd and prefers to go for the easy chow mom happily provides at Deerwood.

Scaredy eyeballs Smokey the Cat.

Scaredy has to keep a special lookout for threats when eating though as a herd can alternate looking and feeding. Today Scaredy didn't like the looks of Smokey the Cat and high-tailed it over the garden, away from Smokey - a deadly predator....

Scaredy busts a move.

Small Streams, Seepages, and Woodland Pools

I'm learning a new bible: The Ontario Tree Marking Guide.

Here's a few words on the subject of water in the forest...

Woodland pools are small depressions that fill with spring melt-water but may be dry during some part of the growing season. They generally have no well defined inlet or outlet. During dry periods, they appear as a depression with matted leaves and water lines on trees (Kittredge and Parker 1996). Woodland pools are important breeding sites for many forest frogs. Seepage areas are important habitats for a variety of wildlife because they support a diversity of plant species and green-up early in spring. Intermittent streams are valuable habitat for some salamanders. They generally flow less than nine months of the year and are characterized by a poorly defined stream channel.

Woodland pools are important breeding habitat for many amphibians. frog) and salamanders (e.g., yellow-spotted salamander). Large woodland pools are generally more valuable than small ones since large pools last longer and subsequently tend to support a greater richness and abundance of breeding amphibians.

A woodland pool in Deerwood's hardwood compartment, 2009

Research from Algonquin Park suggests that pools with a surface area of about 200 m2 (approximately 20 metres x 10 metres) or more generally persist for at least two months, long enough to be considered valuable to wildlife (Kittredge and Parker 1996). This threshold may vary regionally. Forest management operations should be conducted in a manner that maintains the integrity of small streams, seepages, and woodland pools. Avoid marking trees that are within or right on the edge of small streams and large (>200 m2 surface area) seeps and woodland pools.

Moreover, within a tree length of large woodland pools, retain at least 50% stocking unless based on other biodiversity or habitat objectives. In parts of southern Ontario where forests are highly fragmented and large woodland breeding pools are relatively rare, this should be a no-cut buffer (OMNR 2000). When lower basal area (or a larger opening) is required to meet other biodiversity or habitat objectives (e.g., for regeneration of yellow birch or butternut), locate these areas on north or east sides of woodland pools.

Markers should map small streams that are not depicted on forest resource inventory maps and large seeps and woodland pools to help ensure that skid trails and landings can be located so they avoid these features. Reporting requirements should be outlined in a local data collection arrangement.

Source: Ontario Tree Marking Guide

Scarlet Tanager

Had a neat birding moment as I walked to the office. A scarlet tanager, rare for this area, was nibbling on insects - or sapling maple leaves - in front of the office.
Wish I had a better lense on my cheap digital camera.

Dam Beavers...

You may not know, but I've waged an ongoing battle with a pack (?) of beavers on the western edge of Deerwood. They keep building up a dam with the purpose of flooding a large portion of woodland, killing the vegetation and transforming the whole area.

Well, the beaver play their games and I play mine. I think I have every right to maintain the woodlot without the gallivanting beavers making a mess of it to suit their selfish ends.

Anyway, after busting up a new beaver dam a month ago which leads to the beaver pond, I returned today to find this....

The beaver have repaired their me-destroyed dam for the third time!
Notice the flooded area (bottom) and beaver pond (top).

So, with broken silver birch limb in hand, I scooped a hole in their dam repair job and the water flows again. Yea!

A-ha! Billy Bobo 4, Beaver 3.

Now that the Spring snow melt is over, the beaver will have to wait a long time for another chance to flood Deerwood. And I'll be waiting....

Mangy

There's three red squirrels who have taken up residence below the bird feeders hanging fifteen feet above the ground at Deerwood manse. Two of them content themselves with eating whatever seeds the birds knock down to the deck below.

But not Mangy. Mangy is a female squirrel who is nursing at the moment and likes to climb up the house exterior board and batten wall to eat from the hanging feeders. It's quite the sight to see, but a nuisance as Mangy scares the birds away - at least from the feeder she's chowing from.

Smokey the Cat watches Mangy - photographed from my squirrel blind.

Mangy holds onto the house with back feet and eats with the front.

Mangy spots us!

I open the window and Mangy high-tails it down the wall batten.

I don't like Mangy because these aren't squirrel feeders. Though, to be fair, there's no sign stating that it's 'birds only', or 'no squirrels allowed'. But I do respect Mangy. Mangy's smart, has grit, and character. I figure that's worth a lot in this nutty world.

Bear!

I was a-walkin' out to the wood shed to drain the wood splitter oil when suddenly...

... movement off to the left caught my eye. Over the crest of a small forest hill near the deer feeding troughs, a blur of black bear rug loped off away from me..and toward the office.

'Gettoottaheeeerrree!' I yaulped half-heartedly as it was already moving off. While I only got a view of the butt-end, I think it was a young bear. The last bear I saw around the shed was last fall when I was triming saplings. It was a two year old bear crossing the driveway behind me on the way to the deer troughs. Cute thing that moved like a rotweiller. They don't stay cute for long.

Mom has also seen a young bear - not a cub - coming by to eat the corn, oats, and sunflower seeds left for the deer regulars. The deer tend to disappear for days when other large animals decide to tuck into the free chow. A few weeks ago it was a coyote. Though, the coyote was interested in chowing on deer no doubt.

Hey, the more bear the better, I just want to scare them away from the house area as I don't want any bears to turn surly rogue like dump bears who think they own the joint. Then the ministry would have to live trap them and haul them away. Then there's always the chance that one of the neighbours shoots a curious bear used to humans. Would not be the first time.

Often the mother bears are shot or hit by cars and young bears must fend for themselves. Whenever this happens to any animal, I resist the temptation to feel sorry for it as it's the way of things I guess.