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Feeding the wild critters
31 May 2024, 06:24 PM
Jack FrostFeeding the wild critters
Our kitchen table where we eat most meals is next to two large windows that look out on a porch and small side yard where we have half a dozen bird feeders as well as a one foot square hanging peanut holder. We feed birds, squirrels, chipmunks, a woodchuck, lots of crows. We love watching them come to eat
Do you feed any animals in your yard?
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Be calm, be brave, it'll be okay.
31 May 2024, 09:22 PM
rontunerOur last house was close to the forest, so yes... A wide range of critters. The deer seemed to really appreciate the salad bar whenever we tried to plant anything!
Now we are on the 8th (top) floor of an old office building in downtown Chicago. We have finches that visit - both the red and yellow versions, along with lots of sparrows. We just use Nyger(thistle) seed to avoid attracting pidgeons and having a mess of hulls dropping down below.
31 May 2024, 10:25 PM
MikhailohYep. Five different bird feeders and three hummingbird ones. Love it. We have chipmunks? Squirrels bunnies, deer and those $&#% moles. Every type of woodpecker, six pairs of cardinals, owls, doves, robins, wrens, chickadees, jays, titmice, every kind of finch, sparrows, grackles, more that I can’t remember.
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"A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
31 May 2024, 11:16 PM
RealPlayerWe have lots of wild turkeys here. They have become something of a nuisance. No natural predators, unless you count the cats, who dispatch some number of the babies. No need to feed them. They hunt bugs and grubs in the ground.
There are squirrels in abundance. Lots of different birds pecking around. There are mice around. Unfortunately, they get into the house.
Deer sometimes seen, though in lesser numbers as there’s a vasectomy program in place.
Raccoons and possums are about, but we don’t see them often.
Staten Island has more wooded and “natural” areas than elsewhere in NYC.
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“It's hard to win an argument with a smart person. It's damn near impossible to win an argument with a stupid person." -- Bill Murray
01 June 2024, 03:36 AM
DanielYes, there's a cat who comes to my porch screen door looking for food at night. I feed him when I see him and sometimes give him water.
He's an outdoor cat who is taken care of by the two older ladies who live next door on the lot next to my porch. He's friendly with them but he won't let me let him. He's a male cat, fwiw. I'm not a cat whisperer but I can tell this cat is stupid. It is what it is. I have enough experience with cats to be sure of it. He was born to be an outside cat. He couldn't care less about sleeping in one of my planters filled with dirt which contained lettuce at one time. He's not skittish with the neighbors. He's skittish with me. Either way he's not a lap cat. It's against the rules to feed cats. This is probably the only HOA rule I violate. I use my discretion. I'm not contributing to bringing any new cats here. One day I hope to find an intelligent unreservedly affectionate orange male cat and if I do there's a good chance I will bring him inside, take him to the vet, and let him live with me.
01 June 2024, 03:42 AM
DanielWe have possums, rabbits, armadillos iirc, snakes, herons, many other types of birds, dragonflies, and many kinds of butterflies of various sizes, and of course alligators although I haven't seen one yet.
01 June 2024, 03:49 AM
DanielSquirrels. How could I forget squirrels. And mongoose pl, iirc. And ants. And too many flying bugs to count. I have an apple tree outside my bedroom so lots of birdsong. Those birds serve an environment function. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to feed them.
01 June 2024, 06:26 AM
DanielGarden lizards. How could I get forget garden lizard?! I like them better than cats. There are different types but they are all very small. They are such intelligent, curious, friendly creatures. They have no need of being fed by humans.
01 June 2024, 07:54 AM
Mary AnnaThere's a huge, old holly tree outside the window of my office in the new house.
In my current office, we planted a large holly bush outside the window, and I see birds there all year, so I have hopes that I'll have the same situation after we move.
01 June 2024, 05:33 PM
Mikhailohquote:
Originally posted by RealPlayer:
We have lots of wild turkeys here.
Ever see a big flock of them running? Right out of Jurassic Park.
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"A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
01 June 2024, 05:35 PM
Mikhailohquote:
Originally posted by Daniel:
Garden lizards. How could I get forget garden lizard?! I like them better than cats. There are different types but they are all very small. They are such intelligent, curious, friendly creatures. They have no need of being fed by humans.
We have those in the part of Cincinnati I used to live in, and nowhere else around this part of the country. No one seems to know why. I love them. They were always around the pool when I hung out there, which was pretty much always if it was sunny.
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"A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
01 June 2024, 07:21 PM
RealPlayerquote:
Originally posted by Mikhailoh:
quote:
Originally posted by RealPlayer:
We have lots of wild turkeys here.
Ever see a big flock of them running? Right out of Jurassic Park.
No, but they do travel in bunches (“rafters”). You’ll see them here crossing busy 4-lane roads and drivers just stop and wait for them.
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“It's hard to win an argument with a smart person. It's damn near impossible to win an argument with a stupid person." -- Bill Murray
01 June 2024, 07:46 PM
Steve Millerquote:
Originally posted by Daniel:
Garden lizards. How could I get forget garden lizard?! I like them better than cats. There are different types but they are all very small. They are such intelligent, curious, friendly creatures. They have no need of being fed by humans.
Had them everywhere in CA, have never seen one in OH. My favorites were the shiny black ones.
I do have a couple of toads living in the rocks around my little fountain. They make lovely music at night.
And drive the dog crazy.
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Life is short. Play with your dog.
01 June 2024, 09:24 PM
DanielFrogs. Not too many. I like them.
Racoons.
02 June 2024, 10:08 AM
Piano*Dadquote:
Originally posted by Mikhailoh:
quote:
Originally posted by RealPlayer:
We have lots of wild turkeys here.
Ever see a big flock of them running? Right out of Jurassic Park.
Especially bad if they're running AT you!
