Wildlife pays a visit

For those that have deer close by, do you worry about Lyme Disease? So far, we don’t have that issue.

We have a black bear wandering around backyards here.

@bobcat48, when I saw your driveway my first thought was about snow in the winter.
 

fuzzybuddy said:
Supposedly the problem is the health of the forest. By the 1850s, there wasn't a tree left in most eastern US states. So our forests are all about the same age, the deer are preventing the forest from rejuvenating, by eating all new tree growth. Sooner or later, all we will have is dead trees.
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Good forest management could take care of that problem. Some deer proof fencing to protect saplings from the deer, scattered about the forest floor, is one way to ensure regeneration. Easier than trying to eradicate the deer.
 
Jules said:
For those that have deer close by, do you worry about Lyme Disease? So far, we don’t have that issue.

We have a black bear wandering around backyards here.

@bobcat48, when I saw your driveway my first thought was about snow in the winter.
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Yes, I get snow. Usually nothing too serious, so most of the time I just stay home and enjoy it. But If I need to go anywhere I have a 4WD pickup, or if it looks like a serious snow, I can just park at the bottom.
 
Jules said:
For those that have deer close by, do you worry about Lyme Disease? So far, we don’t have that issue.
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We have deer on our property all year around along with other critters. I don't worry about it too much. Animals like opossums are one of the critters that will eat ticks so I'm happy when I see them. We always have all types of woodpeckers, blue jays, crows, crackles, vultures and robins constantly in our yard getting bugs. I also keep our grass mowed short which helps.

The Deer Tick carries Lyme disease, not the deer. Deer are only the host for the tick during their life cycle.

Found two interesting sites that go into further detail:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/kiling-deer-not-answer-reducing-lyme-disease-html/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lyme-disease/ticks-and-lyme-disease
 
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Lilac said:
We have deer on our property all year around along with other critters. I don't worry about it too much. Animals like opossums are one of the critters that will eat ticks so I'm happy when I see them. We always have all types of woodpeckers, blue jays, crows, crackles, vultures and robins constantly in our yard getting bugs. I also keep our grass mowed short which helps.

The Deer Tick carries Lyme disease, not the deer. Deer are only the host for the tick during their life cycle.

Found two interesting sites that go into further detail:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/kiling-deer-not-answer-reducing-lyme-disease-html/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lyme-disease/ticks-and-lyme-disease
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Exactly the same for my location, too.
 
I have a lovely wreath of faux white magnolia blossoms and their thick green leaves on a hook at my kitchen window.

Today, I noticed those tiny Purple Finches that have been hanging around have built a nest on top of the wreath! I can't help but disturb the area from time to time... I have 3 pots to water and a sweeping now and then. I put out a small bowl of water for them on the table between my 2 outside chairs.

That area is under an eave and protected. I really hope they will stay!
 
For the past few years, a wren couple has claimed a pottery bird house on the front of the house over a flower bed. Yesterday, one of their kids fell out & I chased him through the hosta plants to catch him. He is almost ready to fly,
but not quite. I put him back & so far he hasn't tried it again.

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RadishRose said:
I have a lovely wreath of faux white magnolia blossoms and their thick green leaves on a hook at my kitchen window.

Today, I noticed those tiny Purple Finches that have been hanging around have built a nest on top of the wreath! I can't help but disturb the area from time to time... I have 3 pots to water and a sweeping now and then. I put out a small bowl of water for them on the table between my 2 outside chairs.

That area is under an eave and protected. I really hope they will stay!
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I would think if you put up a finch feeder nearby, but not too close to the nest, they would stay. If you do, buy Finch Lovers Blend. They go crazy for it, but it's almost $15 a bag at Walmart.
 
bobcat48 said:
I would think if you put up a finch feeder nearby, but not too close to the nest, they would stay. If you do, buy Finch Lovers Blend. They go crazy for it, but it's almost $15 a bag at Walmart.
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Thanks @bobcat48 . Our Condo rules state no bird feeders after April 1st of each year, for safety. We're near a wooded area. Really, since we've had bear reported here trying to get into dumpsters, it's unsafe. CT has had a growing danger of black bears .

I do appreciate your recommendation.
 
RadishRose said:
Thanks @bobcat48 . Our Condo rules state no bird feeders after April 1st of each year, for safety. We're near a wooded area. Really, since we've had bear reported here trying to get into dumpsters, it's unsafe. CT has had a growing danger of black bears .

I do appreciate your recommendation.
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Ahhhh, got it. Well, I do hope they stick around. Maybe you could "accidentally" spill a tiny bit of finch seed on the small table between the two chairs. Just not enough for a bear to bother with.
 
Jules said:
For those that have deer close by, do you worry about Lyme Disease? So far, we don’t have that issue.
We have a black bear wandering around backyards here.
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Wow, @Jules , are you *sure* you're in Canada?! We have deer around all the time although we're in town... and just *today* there was a black bear on the next block wandering around the yards. Thought for a minute there that one of my neighbors found SF! 🤭
 
CallMeKate said:
Wow, @Jules , are you *sure* you're in Canada?! We have deer around all the time although we're in town... and just *today* there was a black bear on the next block wandering around the yards. Thought for a minute there that one of my neighbors found SF! 🤭
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Yes in Canada. A neighbour of mine is recovering from Lyme disease.She was diagnosed 2 years ago.
 
bobcat48 said:
I would think if you put up a finch feeder nearby, but not too close to the nest, they would stay. If you do, buy Finch Lovers Blend. They go crazy for it, but it's almost $15 a bag at Walmart.
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We feed our birds and have all kinds of birds around including gold & purple finches. I’d let the food go down too far and a female purple finch got her head stuck in one of our feeders. I thought she wasn’t going to make it but my husband took the feeder apart and freed her.
He’s been my hero for the day. I’ve never seen that happen before
 
I go through phases with the critters around me. Deer think of my place as their home, too. I get turkeys in early May. I get fawns in early June, and now I'm into rabbits. My lawn is filled with grass munching rabbits 10-20 of 'em. September is reserved for racoons. Bears attack trash cans in October. In November, when it gets cold, I get mice. Of course, in December, I get reindeer.:)
 

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