Who Goes There?

I've always been curious as to what goes on that we cannot see. Do we have many foxes on the property? How many deer do we have here, bold enough to just walk right into people's gardens? I've been collecting shots from the trail cams. Often times there is no one to be seen, just images that feel like I'm right in a Mary Oliver poem. A frozen pond and the possibility that a critter moved so fast the camera didn't even catch them. 

I do know we have a few foxes. I've seen one, sometimes two, at various hours early in the morning or late into evening. They could be out for a meal or to get some glamorous photos taken. The fox is not afraid of the winter, out and about in the coldest weather having no problem with that heavy fur coat on. Red foxes tend to sleep out in the open in the winter as well, the camera even caught one taking a snooze. I'm glad someone is enjoying the snow. 

A lone Coyote appears every once in a while. Coyotes seem to evoke different feeling for people - fear or wonder. Growing up in North Carolina, coyotes always existed amongst houses in the suburbs, so much so that outdoor cats tended to unfortunately disappear. Coyotes are interesting in the way they are so adaptable to almost any environment making them widespread across North America. They become nocturnal in more suburban areas to avoid humans and will scavenge what they can when food is scarce. They're pretty crafty in my opinion, using their cleverness to adapt and thrive as more and more land disappears. 

A goofy looking heron has shown up a few times. Not in our ponds trying to steal a koi but as another visitor to the watering hole. Death of some deer has brought in a wake of turkey vultures doing their part to keep the environment clean. Some may see vultures as gross or dirty, as they do mostly scavenge for carrion, but they play a vital role in our ecosystem and prevent disease from spreading. And they aren't picky about what they eat! Of course we have hawks as well. If you ever hear crows cawing loudly and look up you may see a hawk having an unfortunately bad day. At least they can find some peace in the woods. 

One of my favorite captures is our resident mink! I have never seen a mink and there he was like a mythical creature, skating on the ice. I'm assuming his den exists somewhere near the water. Minks look cuddly and small, with a body weight of just around 2lbs, but they are ferocious predators with a wicked bite that can instantly kill. Mean but cute is a dangerous combination. 

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Just like the mink there is often a pudgy raccoon hanging by the water, leaving scat and prints right out in the open. Not so smart my friend.  Perhaps the mink and raccoon have neighboring dens? Something tells me they may share the same territory but the raccoon isn't the best neighbor. I imagine the mink as this neat, quiet, no-nonsense character while the raccoon is his rambocus neighbor leaving messes everywhere and making way too much noise at 3AM. It might not end well if he keeps up that behavior... 

As for the gardener's nemesis, the deer, we have had many coming and going on the property. Starting in the Fall going into the early Winter I noticed several bucks and does all together. Now I see a small group of does in the woods or just walking across the road. I see their tracks in the snow going right up the sidewalks like they own the place. I've learned to co-exist with them as a gardener, my only attempts to fend them off is with "deer resistant plants" and stinky deer repellant. After all this is their home too, the plants their food and the land their beds and who am I to tell them otherwise? Though they did turn some newly planted evergreens into lollipops...

The property is rich with life beyond our own. In the quiet of the night so much unfolds that we cannot see. The camera gives us a rare glimpse into the hidden world, showing a mink gliding across some ice and a fox curled up in the snow for a nap. There's an entire ecosystem thriving around us, with every critter playing it's part to maintain the balance. It's a reminder to me to continue to be a good steward of the land, creating habitat rather than destroying and protecting those that I cannot see. 

Have you had any special wildlife encounters here? Share below!