| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Aug 05 2017 : 9:25:47 PM
Hi Sisters, I am sure some of your stories will be more dramatic than this little experience. But I was just so surprised at the encounter and although raccoons can be pests this was a funny experience. We rented a cabin on the St. Joe river near Avery, Idaho and next door were three huge and old cherry trees, one ancient apple tree loaded with baby apples waiting for fall, and a loaded old huckleberry bush. I was so amazed at these trees I took my camera out to take photos and noticed the branches waving and bouncing around. There were five huge raccoons climbing down the cherry tree because they saw me and they ran one by one to the stone foundation air vent of the house on the property to hide. Two of the raccoons peeked out to see if I was still there. I had a fun time watching them feast on the fruit for the remainder of our stay. Crazy funny! Annie 
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| windypines |
Posted - Mar 26 2019 : 03:25:18 AM
thank you for sharing your fantastic pictures. The moose are amazing. stay safe.
Farming in WI
Michele |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 25 2019 : 12:27:11 PM
Oh my! How gorgeous! Annie, you are one lucky lady! Those deer and elk have me mesmerized. I can only imagine looking out my windows and seeing those beautiful creatures. Definitely sharing these photos with my husband. Hopefully we can find us a place like this. Keep sharing your photos! I love seeing them all!
Krista |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Mar 23 2019 : 10:24:56 AM
Hi Winnie,
In my bird field guide map for your region it looks to be that your chickadee may be the Carolina Chickadee. They are brazen little creatures and somehow survive here even in the minus zero temperatures and snow storms. I imagine you get wonderful birds to watch! These birds below are Bohemian Waxwings! Also Mr. Marmot lives here. I hope to see him after the ground thaws. Thank you for your reply! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Mar 23 2019 : 05:51:46 AM
Oh, Annie, this Florida Farmgirl is enjoying your bird photos very much!! Like you, watching and learning about birds has become a great source of fun and pleasure too. Way over here and down in the South, we don't see the Varied Male Thriush or Norhtern Flicker, so I am excited to see what these birds look like close up! Black capped Chickadees, however, are year round residents here at my backyard and they are so cute and feisty!! Our variety, however, does not have a full black head, but rather just a small back cap on the top of it's head. Lately, we have been enjoying a small crowd of Goldfinches who have wintered here before heading north. It is wonderful to see the male feathers get brighter yellow as the days pass. They won'
t be here long, so we have been enjoying every day we get with them! Thanks for sharing your photos!! It is fun to see what other Farmgirls enjoy in their backyards.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Mar 22 2019 : 10:59:56 PM
 
Okay sisters, I can't help myself. But I thought you would like to see a Varied Male Thrush, a male Northern Flicker and a Black Capped Chickadee. I have bird feeders out front and take photos from my window. Being a city girl I had never seen these birds until I moved to Idaho at the age of 61. So new adventures do still happen as one gets older. I am enjoying the natural surroundings for sure and the hymn, "How Great Thou Art" often comes to mind. Enjoy! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Mar 22 2019 : 10:51:08 PM
Here are two young deer surviving their first winter. The next photo is the same two born this past early summer. And the same one is in the lead! I hope the foliage leafs out fast as the deer are looking so skinny now.
Enjoy! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Mar 22 2019 : 10:32:37 PM
Yes, ours is a motion sensor also. It has been so entertaining to see what is out back. And it helps our awareness of what's on the trail for when we take our walks, which are usually mid-day. Each animal seems to have its own hour so to speak on the game trail.
We were surprised to see Elk on our trail. It has been 5 years since elk were on our property. There was one Big Daddy and four female. So exciting! We have a garden hut out back that serves as a place we could quick duck into it if we were to encounter creatures on our walk.
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 22 2019 : 11:31:36 AM
Annie, that is so amazing! I would love to experience these wild animals in my yard. It would be such an exciting surprise seeing what pops up on the camera. My dad has one that only turns on when it notices motion. Is yours like that?
Krista |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Mar 22 2019 : 02:55:20 AM
I switched out our animal cam memory sticks the other day and had this surprise on them. We have seen the wild turkeys in groups of about 50 in the neighborhood, but we got 16 frames of them walking through the snow on our game trail out back. The snow is still fairly deep here but beginning to melt in places so they can scratch and feed. The bobcat is also around again. Best to you sisters! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| janamarieje |
Posted - Aug 21 2018 : 05:08:28 AM
Annie, I love all your photos and experiences of wildlife in Idaho, thanks for sharing!
Jana
http://www.emhardt.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/cjhandcraftedstudio
Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. ~Author Unknown
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! ~Charles Schulz
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| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Aug 20 2018 : 10:56:52 PM
I never knew about paper wasps before moving to Idaho. We have 3 of these nests high in the pine trees and the neighbor has one too. We leave them alone because I do not need a swarm chasing me through the acreage. I can't run that fast any longer! I know when we visited a heritage park in Canada they had them there too and they said if you put a small paper bag blown up and tied hanging on your porch the wasp are so territorial they will not build a nest there. They perceive the brown paper bag as a nest. The heritage park had little brown paper bags hanging from all the buildings and tourist shops on the front porches,so I asked why. At the time I hadn't seen paper wasp nest yet. I am in my 6th year living here and each season I learn or see something new. The wasps and yellow jackets have been the most we have seen this summer! So interesting! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Aug 20 2018 : 9:12:50 PM
Oh my another little baby moose has emerged out front near the neighbors cherry tree. Their big pick up truck startled it so it ran out in the open allowing me to get a camera shot with my long lens. I am calling this one Baby Cocoa because it has so many chocolate colors, dark, milk and even a bit of latte on the legs. Most of the baby moose I see are dark with whitish grey legs. These color markings are very distinctive and so pretty. The mating starts again here in October. I feel sorry for the wildlife here now because the smoke is so bad from all the fires I can barely go outdoors. They are breathing in such bad air! I can only imagine the smell makes them nervous too. Enjoy! Annie
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| HollerGirl56 |
Posted - May 09 2018 : 04:57:14 AM
I would rather kiss a bear on the lips than live close to an alligator. I am terrified of the thought of them and the fact that they would eat your pets. I walk my dogs every day and I can't imagine not being able to do what I want. Sounds horrid and so scary. I also read that they can run quite fast. I never shoot anything either but I would sure get a big old gun and deal with gators. HA HA---probably not. I can't even kill a spider. I catch them in jars and put them outside. Too bad these creatures prevent you from enjoying your pond. But all things have a right to live on this earth---at least that's how I see it. Live and let live is my motto and also why I am over loaded with animals. I love every living creature.
Life isn't finding shelter in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.===Sherrilyn Kenyon |
| hoosiercountry |
Posted - May 08 2018 : 6:01:40 PM
Well being raised on a farm you see all kinds of wildlife coons, possums, deer, snakes, and with two older brothers you learn not to let those things scare you. But then I married and he moved me to Florida, land of really big bugs and alligators. When we bought our home with 3 acres and a pond, I felt safe that the house and one acre was completely chain link fenced, with the pond on other side. Then one week before we moved I found out alligators can climb fence. So much for safety. I also had dreams of putting a small gazebo out by our pond, well we had been in the house 3 days and there he or she was, in my pond. So I call the wild life department to have them come and move this gator, and the very first question they ask me is "are you feeding it?" I'm thinking are you crazy. Well that began my education on alligators, it was explained to me that they have to be over 5 foot long, or aggressive, like hanging off your leg, because they do not relocate them they have to put them down. Then they sent me a booklet on "How to live with Alligators in your back yard" I was not giving up so over the next few months we got on first name basis with the wildlife people to come and remove the gator so I could get ducks or just take a walk by the pond. Every time we call the very first question was always "are you feeding them", my husband told them one time that "no he had ran out of neighborhood kids". Yes they finally came out, the trapper kindly explained that the one that was here was to small, and there would likely be another one tomorrow, since they travel pond to pond, so he proceeded to tell us how to shoot it, what happens after it is shot, and never admit to shooting one, it's against the law. Well we have never and would never shoot, but I learned to watch for them, and I learned their sound they make, we had 4 in the pound at one time. I always said I could walk downtown Venice at 3 a.m. and be safer than in my back yard at high noon, things there can eat you. Hugs Karla
FGOM March 2018
I dusted once, it came back. I'm not falling for that again. |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - May 02 2018 : 2:24:02 PM
Oh yes, Coyotes are very common in the west, even in the cities. They like rocky canyons, but navigate very well in the urban settings now. They are very cunning and organized in their hunts. They will often follow people on a walk from higher ground watching them and the group will be in a circle around them. They usually eat rabbits, birds, snakes, mice, squirrels, animals like chickens in the coop pens, and pet cats. Our neighborhood has lost every single pet cat (except mine) to a coyote. I would never underestimate them. They howl here after they have made a kill.
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| HollerGirl56 |
Posted - May 02 2018 : 06:08:50 AM
We often hear coyotes at night here and they give me the cold chills. Do you have coyotes in Idaho or wolves? Just wondering as I don't know much about the west. Saw my first big black snake of the season yesterday. Not looking forward to those. |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Apr 30 2018 : 4:12:47 PM
Well, they look similar but are actually considered a large squirrel in the classification of Marmota with 15 species. This photo made me laugh, as the two marmots were taking in the view shortly after snowmelt looking out toward Spokane Valley, WA. Ha,Ha!! Too funny. Enjoy! Annie 
"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| HollerGirl56 |
Posted - Apr 30 2018 : 2:34:16 PM
Never heard of a marmot---are they something like a groundhog? I can't imagine a big ground squirrel. Our little ones can be pesty enough although I absolutely love them. I raised one from a baby once and I would take it places underneath my shirt. I even took it to my husband's grandmothers visitation and it slept the whole time.
You Might Be a Redneck If---you've transported a goat in an economy car.---Jeff Foxworthy FarmGirl#7620 |
| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Apr 29 2018 : 6:19:44 PM
And then there are the dirt diggers that can tunnel away! We have a group of Northern Idaho Ground Squirrels and oh my goodness they are so big! And the Marmots are so big I can see them from my kitchen window on the hill behind us. Crazy!!
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"The turnings of life seldom show a sign-post; or rather, though the sign is always there, it is usually placed some distance back, like the notices that give warning of a bad hill or a level railway-crossing." Edith Wharton, 1913 from 'The Custom of the Country'. |
| HollerGirl56 |
Posted - Apr 23 2018 : 11:22:36 AM
I have had many wild animal encounters since I live in the middle of the woods. Bears have left footprints on our cabin windows. On evening we were cooking at the cabin and the dogs went crazy. I went to the end of the porch and there was a bear. I screamed and he ran away. We also had four bears cross in front of us when we were four wheeling. Our hunters are always showing us videos of bears they taped at their deer stands. I think we have thirteen close. I am not afraid of them because they will run if you yell at them. We are also whipped out with raccoons. I feed a sweet little baby who would come to the door and take bread out of your hand and then he brought his whole family. It is no longer fun. We will trap them and relocate them. We never kill anything. I have also been attacked twice by a deer because I got too close to a fawn. This sounds like a lie, ,I know, but I sure was glad to have a close tree to hide behind. Deers also attack our dogs when they have fawns.
You Might Be a Redneck If---you've transported a goat in an economy car.---Jeff Foxworthy |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Aug 15 2017 : 09:41:58 AM
Annie, how wonderful is that! I would love to experience something like that in my yard. They are beautiful creatures.
Krista |
| katmom |
Posted - Aug 14 2017 : 7:31:51 PM
Annie,,, oh my stars!!! so cute!!!
I luv it,,,
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| AnnieinIdaho |
Posted - Aug 14 2017 : 4:08:27 PM
Hi again sisters,
Mama Moose came by to show her off her twins where she remembered there were cherry and apple trees and lots of native shrub greenery. After devouring many branches and the babies nursing they had a good snooze on our lawn. I sat on our porch and sang the same soft lullaby song I sang to the mama moose when she was a baby, and I sang the same song to her twins. They fell asleep on the lawn. I do think she is familiar with us, my voice and our property. But yes,I am still very careful. I use a long lens when taking pictures and zoom in so I am not as close as it looks. I can run into our front door in a skip and a hop! They are so cute and curious at this stage. Enjoy the photos! Annie
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| katmom |
Posted - Aug 09 2017 : 08:31:20 AM
Love the "encounters "... my most 'worst ' encounter was a deer rubbing his hiney on my trailer! Lol!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Aug 08 2017 : 10:55:25 AM
My family has had a couple encounters with raccoons before. They like to get in my dads garden and make a mess. Just this last year he had some massively huge ones. They are so dang cute, but so mean. Love how your pictures turned out Annie!
Krista |
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