We don't see 1,000th of the happenings in this yard -- all the life and death, love and struggle, local traffic and passers through.
The geese came in early this morning, then were gone. Later, we noticed the snow was disturbed across the river. There was mud and blood
but no tracks.
A Canada Goose was killed, not much doubt, but who was the predator? Snapping Turtles are still sleeping, too much damage for Mink. We wondered if some one came from the air. . . if a Bald Eagle had taken a goose. Can they? Not much else could have torn up the snow and earth so badly. Still, there's that track to or from the water, just to the left of the battlefield. It's a puzzle.
Bankside, there were blood drops in Whitetail Deer prints. I wondered how this deer hurt himself; this was one of several bloody footprints.
Across the yard, it's eat 'n' run,
by a Red Squirrel.
I couldn't believe the size of these Cottontail Rabbit tracks.
(wedding band for scale)
(wedding band for scale)
There are highways all through the yard, this one under a fallen apple limb. A webcam or infrared camera at night would be a riot to watch: deer, squirrels, skunks, rabbits, all passing through the yard, as if they owned the place.Which they do.
10 comments:
Oh this was so delightful! The snow makes for a record book of all the animals who pass through that day--lovely! :-)
Your words made me smile!
"As if they owned the place. Which they do."
Interesting, what all goes on out there...when we're not watching. I'm curious too, about what happened! Hope you solve the mystery.
As much as I manage to witness just looking out my workroom window most days, I'm forever reminded by just how narrow my view of the river really is—and that I miss way more than I see. The dramas are ongoing and everywhere, large and small, day and night.
A fresh snow gives you an inkling of all the life that surrounds you—and something of their recent scenarios. We miss much, no matter how hard we try to observe and keep track.
That Canada goose killing is a real mystery to me. It seems obvious from the evidence in the snow that there was quite a struggle…and I think it likely went from the upper area downslope and into the water. I don't know of a single water-borne predator that could accomplish such a feat this time…nor, frankly, any time here in Ohio.
I don't think many snapping turtles would be able to grab and kill an adult Canada—and especially not if I'm right about the upper-bank-to-waterside direction of the struggle. Of course, there are no snappers out and about this time of year, anyway, so the point is moot. And I'm really sure a bald eagle would tackle a full-grown goose, either—plus a diving eagle would have to make it through what I assume is a tangle of limbs and branches extending out from the tree above the kill site.
But if wasn't an eagle…what on earth caught, killed, and carried off that goose? If you ever figure it out—or even hear a theory that makes halfway sense—I'd sure like to hear it. You have a genuine whodunit! Great post.
An Eagle could probably take a goose for a kill but it would be to heavy to fly away with, so the carcass would still be there. My guess would be a mink.
"...,as if they owned the place." Indeed.
This morning, as I sprinkled birdseed under the feeder, I instantly noticed a pile of gray feathers--surely a Morning Dove had met its end. But I was wrong; there off to the side was the forward half of a male Cardinal. I'd remarked to my wife that there were two Cardinals scrounging around under the feeder late into twilight last evening--much later than they're usually about. I'll bet that one of the resident Cooper's Hawks took advantage of the unexpected early evening meal because I was spreading seed too early this morning for birds to have roused themselves yet.
Thanks for your feedback, Folks. I would agree that a mink (around 2 pounds) might be ferocious enough to take a goose (around 12 pounds), but, again, where's the carcass? Maybe a mob of marauding minks? Or a mass of mischievous muskrats?
Very intriguing mystery, Jain. I'd love to know what did it. Is it possible it happened so close to the water's edge that the carcass slipped/fell off the bank and washed downstream? Maybe during the struggle? Even still, it doesn't answer the question of who did what to whom.
The cottontail tracks are gorgeous and enormous! Now that's a healthy rabbit.
Jain, I love your blog because you notice the very things that I think I would. I'm reading through your archive to see what I've missed!
I saw the size of those rabbit tracks, allright. THERE's your goose-killer. I've seen Monty Python's Holy Grail many times...killer rabbits are out there!
Jason, certainly anything is possible!
Kay, oh that's nice to hear!
Amber, bwah ha ha! (I was in the theater during the initial release of Holy Grail -- there was a bomb threat that day and we had to evacuate!(
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