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9:53:00 PM EST
Feeling Happy
deer, skunks and bats, oh my!
The same day as I foolishly ventured out to the library book sale, I stopped and saw the poor dead deer that Tabitha and the twins found. It is tiny--just a spike deer--and apparently had been tossed over the highway overpass by highway workers after being hit by a car. (there were also the corpses of some raccoons nearby).
I could hardly believe it, but Mandy used her machete and chopped off the head and neck. Poor little fellow. Then we put it in a bucket of water, to let nature take its smelly course so they can have the skull.
Mandy said that she felt an odd sort of peace while removing the head--that at least his poor life was not completely wasted. He is now the source of much neighborhood curiosity, as everyone treks to the backyard to peer into the garbage can and see the head and neck of the deer.
Since the yearling was not much bigger than our Greyhounds (just taller) we will probably be able to do the whole skeleton.
We had a terrible scare today. Mandy decided to let Lilypad out into the backyard to roam around since it was unseasonably warm. She forgot that the gate is missing ,and after a while came into the house. Suddenly she ran up to me, very worried, because Lily had escaped again. Even though I should not be driving, I drove around the neighborhood frantically searching for our fat little skunk. I even called the police. Eventually she was discovered curled up inside of a cabinet in our side yard.
Whew.
Our little bat Noel is doing very well, thanks to the Cincinnati Museum Center, who sent over a bat cage, lots of vitamins and mealworms. They were happy to find someone in Kentucky who will rehab bats. We are writing the state to become certified in bat rehabbing. I am hoping that Mandy will get to volunteer with the very kind young women at the museum center and learn more about our winged little buddies. He ate THIRTY mealworms last night. His little belly gets to looking like a golf ball!
The hawk is back to perching in the huge Maple tree next door. I tried to take some pictures of it, but my telephoto did not do a verygood job. There was a pile of feathers in my neighbors yard where it caught a pigeon.
I am always surprised at the amount of wildlife we find right smack here in the middle of an urban environment.
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Isn't it amazing .... how these creatures can find their way to us in this environment. I live in an area that has been pretty well developed, but luckily, the city plan called for lots of open space. As a result, my home is surrounded by hills filled with deer, coyotes, foxes, possums, squirrels, rabbits, and beautiful owls and eagles. We do have to watch out for the rattlesnakes in the summer, and sometimes a mountain lion can make an appearance, but it is so nice to feel so close to nature ! Enjoy your animal buddies ! Tina http://journals.aol.com/onemo
retina/Ridealongwithme -
I'm glad Lily didn't get too far. Better you than me on the bat front. There was a time I would have happily done it, but I think it has passed.
Traci -
OH man all those animals carcasses discareded
wow glad you found lily
1/18/06 10:56 AM