wildlife in the 'hood (Lewiston, Owls Head: house, neighborhood, living in) - Maine (ME) - City-Data Forum

maureenb · 06-13-2009, 04:59 PM

Was working over at the new digs today and had an interesting moment while on the way back from the stump dump ($3/load-brush; $5/load-demo). There's a pond on the road just 'round the corner from my place. Across the street from the pond is a small establishment which makes THE best burger (among other wickedly good things).

As "season" creeps up on us, traffic has been picking up as folks from here & there head in for THE best burger. As I was slowly driving by the pond, I noticed a sign. I read the sign, and at first I thought it addressed hasty, unthoughtful drivers.

But then my brain (gutter brain, it appears) caught up with the rest of me, and I realized it was a thoughtful sign - I will be living in a thoughtful neighborhood!

The sign reads, "Slow Mother Duck!"

Maybe this thread could be for animal sightings near homes.

There is a wet area on my property & a male mallard was flying in every eve around 5 p.m. Haven't seen him since I began making daily ruckus. Maybe he is husband to "Slow Mother Duck"? Also, lots of red fox around - too many? They are out in daylight, grazing black oil seed from under bird feeders & etc.

woolwiTch · 06-13-2009, 06:17 PM

Hope the Mother Duck isn't slow herself!

We have many, many foxes around this year. They're driving the area dogs nuts and one had a standoff with my cat in front of the house this week---and another standoff tonight with a neighbor cat. I don't get the impression the fox want to attack the cats, but it makes me a little uneasy.

Deer seem to be coming back a little bit this year after the population being down for the last couple of years. Hope they don't try to jump the garden fence. I doubt they will; there's plenty around for them without it.

This year's woodchuck seems to have settled in at our neighbor's instead of under our shed, as usual. Yay! Last year I accidentally trapped a skunk instead of the woodchuck, so this is very good news for me.

I saw in today's paper that three moose walked right down Main Street in Lewiston yesterday.

Submariner · 06-13-2009, 06:51 PM

How do they know the mother duck is slow?

Maybe she is duclexic.

Could she be 'bird-brained'?

dmyankee · 06-13-2009, 07:08 PM

My wife stops traffic annually for two broods of ducklings when momma decides its time to make the trek from the pond out back to the Lake across the street. There is always two families of Mallards out back. Occasionally, there has been a family or two of goselings. Always a riot!

maureenb · 06-14-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Deer seem to be coming back a little bit this year after the population being down for the last couple of years. Hope they don't try to jump the garden fence. I doubt they will; there's plenty around for them without it.

Woolwitch, I'm laughing! Beet greens are way better than other options.

Each year we enclose the garden with 8' black nylon netting hung on well set saplings. And the deer always jump in, eat & leave (eats, chews, and leaves?). Sometimes they clear the fence; sometimes they're too busy chewing on their way out to bother, and they shred the fence. No shortage of deer 'round here.

And turkeys...lotsa turkeys. The deer & turkeys are hemmed in by us. It's the ticks that these creatures host - when I'm not - that I think about.

Quote:

How do they know the mother duck is slow?

Maybe she is duclexic.

Could she be 'bird-brained'?

!

Why did the duck cross the road? It was the chicken's day off.

Northern Maine Land Man · 06-14-2009, 05:45 AM

Which brings to mind the annual question: Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the porcupine it could be done.

You learn the answers to life's questions in Maine.

Coaster · 06-14-2009, 06:27 AM

Never mind all that. I want to know where THE best burger can be found! C'mon Maureen, 'fess up.

maureenb · 06-14-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coaster

Never mind all that. I want to know where THE best burger can be found! C'mon Maureen, 'fess up.

The Owls Head General Store, any day but Sunday! But remember, watch out for slow ducks.

starwalker · 06-14-2009, 07:16 AM

http://www.ursai.net/blog/deer1.jpg (broken link)
Seen in our back field this morning.
http://www.ursai.net/blog/deer2.jpg (broken link)
close up...

They were not terribly apprehensive of me, standing in the back doorway. They better stay out of the garden, or I am getting a paintball gun and "tagging" them bright PINK!

retiredtinbender · 06-14-2009, 07:22 AM

Paintball!?!?!?! I never thought of that. These guys are just watching my garden now. Lately we've been down to one "scout" but a few weeks ago we had 11 in the back yard. Last year they loved my beet greens and swiss chard. Can't fault 'em there. This year I have hot pepper wax to spray on teh plants.