If their fright was real, their safety and well- being were never really in doubt. This is becoming a common problem in Western states where the migration of urbanites to rural and woodland areas is exposing inexperienced and uninformed newcomers to encounters with authentic wildlife, with emphasis on wild. (Gray Wolf howls)

The obvious needs to be said:
Humans in new surroundings must learn the ways of wildlife and thus understand how to avoid encounters that can be frightening and potentially...Read On

I've learned to check the source of this sound whenever I can, because certain Blue Jays can imitate the Red- shoulder's squealing call exactly. But this time it was the real thing. (Red-shouldered Hawk)

Not one but three hawks soared past me and across the back field at treetop level, calling to each other. Their elevation and the angle of sunlight was such that I couldn't see any distinguishing marks. It was a bit unusual to see three birds together in late fall. I suspected they were immature, or perhaps a couple siblings and a parent traveling together.

Two of them lit in a tall black locust surrounded by cedars, and the other glided off in another direction. They remained silhouetted against the sun so I still couldn't distinguish their...Read On

Rabbits, Raccoons and deer aren’t so wild any more because we’re taking away their habitats and they are learning to live among us. We’ve forced wildlife to become suburbanized!

(This USDA photo shows a family of Virginia Opposums in a barrel)

They are opportunistic and adaptive. As habitats are cut down and developments move in, they’ve had to move closer to our homes to nest and eke out a life. In many cities nationwide, those adapting animals include deer, Raccoons, Canada Geese, squirrels, skunks and rabbits—even foxes.

“The reason foxes are adapting well is that they are moving in where their food sources, such as rabbit, songbirds and the young of Raccoons and opossums, are plentiful,” says Jim Seward, assistant park services and program at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, VA.

“A concern on the horizon is the invasion of...Read On

Usually he's the "Bluebird of Happiness" but here he appears ruffled and disgusted with the onset of colder weather in this photograph by Michael L. Smith. This is one of the most famous nature photographs ever created and originally was seen in a National Geographic Society birding book. Each print is individually hand signed by the photographer.

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AS I EXPECTED, last week's article on free- roaming cats triggered lots of letters. All but two supported my position that pet cats belong indoors. Here is one of many excerpts: * Penny Miller, Director, Good Zoo, Wheeling, WV-- "On behalf of the birds, and on behalf of all of us who have to develop the funding, resources, veterinary expertise, and huge time commitment to rehab birds and other critters hurt by cats ... thank you, thank you, thank you! And on behalf of cats, threatened by the feral feline reservoirs of feline infectious peritonitis, leukemia, corona virus and a host of other diseases, thank you!"...Read On

KNOXVILLE, IA-- Recently I was kayaking on Red Rock Lake with friends Brian Lange and Scott Evans of Knoxville. It was an unusually mild, sunny, and beautiful day. After we passed the Elk Rock Cliffs and as we were nearing the Elk Rock State Park ranger station, we spotted what seemed to be a Bald Eagle perched in a tree atop a low bluff. But as we drew closer, it did not flush. When we finally got to the shoreline beneath the bird, we realized in shock that it was hanging upside-down from a limb, dangling by one leg. Only the sudden movement of its head as it oriented to us showed us that...Read On