Just in case you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram,
I wanted to be sure you see the lovely creatures
that have been gracing our property, of late. =)
The grand coyote (Canis latrans) arrived after big splashes of rain.
Was cruising around, hunting gophers,
spending a lot of time looking about (hence, Wily Coyote).
(Note coat is wet fm. all that rain)
The classic LEAP & JAM down into gopher tunnels. =)
We also saw bobcat (Lynx rufus).
That fence is at the northern (and very wild) edge of our property.
Source of many great things for a biologist. =)
Sleepy bobcat in manzanita shade at the edge of our driveway.
Very exciting for me, but I only allowed myself 3 photos,
then left that window so it could relax w/o the paparazzi. =)
And, here's an animal both the above species love to eat,
and of which we have plenty, the humble gopher (Thomomys spp.).
Attracts SO many exciting carnivores for me to ogle. =)
Wily Coyote Tale
I'd recently noticed the fencing of our hen's porch
seemed a little more pulled away from the framing than it had been.
As if a creature was helping that process along...
So, investigating it to asses when & how to fix it,
I saw FOUR long hairs right at one of the pulled-away corners.
Pretty sure hair that long is from a coyote.
Funny, when I'm about (& awake) the coyote studiously avoids the hen house.
Looks like when the humans are snoozing,
coyotes return & look into opening that tantalizing snack shack.
Since then I've shored it up & will do more of that work today.
Mechanical exclusion is my #1 method for dealing with pests,
whether they're gophers or deer (gardening) or coyotes & bobcats (chickens).
That way, if I'm smart, there's no need to kill anything.
These giant brains can be very useful, if we employ them. =)
xoxobb
