Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Where The Wild Things Are

I wanted to share some pictures we recently got off our trail camera.  It's wonderful to see the wild creatures that inhabit our wilderness space.  However, I'm thoroughly convinced a moonlight stroll any night this winter is not something I would be comfortable doing.
 

First of all, here's our "big buck" who happily made it through hunting season.  "Hi, Big Buck!"
 

"'Bye, Big Buck!"
 


We're fairly sure this is a bobcat.  He was on his way somewhere and didn't stand still for a good photo.
 

This is a very healthy looking fox heading back to his/her den one morning carrying something in his/her mouth.
 

It was right around 8 a.m., and I'm imagining it's breakfast he/she is taking home.
 

Suspicions confirmed.  We've suspected we have a pack of resident timber wolves in our woods and here are six of them right in front of the trail camera.  (How cool for us is that?)  We also had a shot of seven of them but the picture wasn't as good as this one.  
 
Definitely no night time walks for me.  Nope.  Nuh-uh.  No sirree. 

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mama Pea! Wow! Fantastic pix!! Yikes, a bobcat so close? That definitely would scare me. I never trust a cat--no matter what size they are!! May you and yours be cozy for the holidays and have a blessed 2023.-M

Michelle said...

Very cool! I was wondering why there are no bear photos, then "Duh."

2 Tramps said...

Such fun to see what goes on around us! Especially the wolves - they can be so elusive. You are inspiring us to get our trail cams back up. Thank you! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Rosalea said...

Great pictures! A big buck in daylight, wow. Do you go out and listen to wolf-song at night? The deer migration to the yard has started here, as the snow depth has triggered it. There are tracks everywhere, so expect to hear wolves soon.

Mama Pea said...

Anonymous M - I think we hit the bonanza with the pics we've gotten in the last few days as before that we weren't getting much at all except a few deer passing through. You know of the mountain lion sightings in your area so that would be something to scare me!

Melissa - Yes, at least we don't have to worry about stumbling into one of our black bears this time of year. Seems like they didn't den up until later than usual this year so I always had an eye out for them!

2 Tramps - You never know what you'll capture on a trail camera, do you! This camera is pointed to a spot on our driveway so we get a lot of us coming and going, delivery trucks coming and going, etc. That's always so exciting (not)! Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season for you!

Rosalea - We do occasionally hear the wolves at night but, for some reason, more often the coyotes . . . which have more of a yip-yipping song than the howling of the wolves. Do I remember you saying you've had a deer kill right in your yard?

gz said...

Definitely no night time walks...but how fascinating, a small window on their world

Mandy said...

Wow! What gorgeous pictures! I do not blame you one but for not wanting to go out at night! Haha! But so cool that all of that wildlife is right nearby.

Rosalea said...

Yes, Mama Pea. The previous owners told us there was a kill right behind the big solar panels, one wild and windy night. We've had deer bed down there during the fall migration, finding all the beds in the AM. We've found and investigated other fresh kills in the winters while snowshoeing; broad areas of trampled pink snow, deer hair all over, and the odd bit of bone and hide. They don't waste.

SmartAlex said...

Wow! A big wolf pack! You have beautiful wildlife! We also have a huge, beautiful buck and a daylight photo. 10 or 12 point. Cats are so rare around here, but I would love to see one. As it is, my husband often worries about running into a bear when he goes out very early for the paper.

Mama Pea said...

gz - So much is around that we never see so our trail cams have been a very enlightening look into the wildlife so near us. And so very interesting!

Mandy - The wildlife would most likely hear and possibly see us if we were out and about in the middle of the night and scurry off and hide before we ever got a tiny glimpse of them. Still, a big pack of wolves is something to be aware of!

Rosalea - No, they certainly don't waste! They don't kill for sport but rather for food that enables them to survive. We were glad to see the wolves we captured on the camera looked healthy and well-fed!

SmartAlex - Your husband is wise to be careful not to startle a bear! They wouldn't normally attack unless provoked by surprise or by fear of harm to their cubs. Wildlife operates with a keen sense of survival. Anyone who doesn't respect that can be in for trouble. As nice as it is to get a glimpse of them now and then, respecting their space is to our advantage!

Tim B. Inman said...

Yikes! That is probably a bobcat, but it's a big one. We have them here at the farm, and we also have cougars. No wolves yet. I remember from my Wisconsin days how huge they are. Dangerous at night: Yes! I'll stay indoors too. Otherwise, Christmas cheers from all the crew here at Oakdale Farm.