Community Chat

[MamaWick]

This is a lot behind us to the right.  We call it the "back 40" which is where a lot of our deer come from to get to us.  It was bound to happen, but now more of their habitat going away.  Sad.

And yes, PapaWick and I are part of the problem. 

[golding76]

Aw, I am so sorry for this.  When all the forests and green are gone, will we then learn the lesson? 

Those deer who end up in our driveway and fox families who inhabit our suburban backyard are telling us something.  Yes, this happens often to me.

[Spurt]

Even though Im in the suburbs here in SA.....we get a lot of deer, raccoons, possums, skunks, coyotes because there are a lot of undeveloped fields and "woods"....unfortunately they used some of the land to build a subdivision of homes which displaced some of the critters....  Thankfully they also made some of the land into a greenbelt which helped retain land for a habitat for some of the animals too...The animals like to come to our subdivision and drank from people's sprinkler systems....and eat food left out for feral cats.....but the skunks are a group we wish could be uninvited....PHEW!

[KingstonsMom]

@golding76, so true.

Loss of their natural habitat is forcing these unfortunate, misplaced animals into our neighborhoods.

This mountain lion has a San Fran suburb on red alert, because it's been seen staring down kids at play! Yeah, things are getting hairy.

This big cat made its way into Timothy Kerrisk's yard in Pacifica, CA last weekend, and he recorded this video of it sitting by his front gate ... seemingly stalking kids who were riding their bikes just across the street.

Kerrisk tells KRON4 he thought it was a dog, like a German Shepherd, at first, but once he realized he was staring at a cougar ... he started shouting for the kids to get inside.

As you can see, the commotion made the big kitty decide to split ... so it jumped the fence and hid under a nearby truck for a bit. Kerrisk says the puma was still looking like it wanted to pounce though ... so he chased it away and over a hill.

Here's the scary part -- Kerrisk says the same mountain lion was going after his cat earlier in the day, then killed a deer behind his neighbor's house.

Cougar attacks on humans are very rare, but 2 people were killed by them in 2018. So ... yikes.

https://www.tmz.com/videos/2020-09-23-092320-mountain-lion-v2-4855660/

[1Snickers]

@MamaWick   I'm sorry your woods are going. I've been afraid this would happen to you, and I know you enjoy your deer as I have mine!

   I haven't fed mine for over a year due to neighbors complaining. My lot is an acre, wooded and people all around have put up fences and then put shrubbery and plants that deer like. Then they complain when they eat them. I can't feed birds because the deer come to seeds on the ground. 
   Viewing your beautiful photos I can see houses being built close by you. Be prepared for fences and gardens and complaints. 
    Last year was terrible having the deer come with begging eyes expecting food. They don't understand. I would cry want to feed them and the birds and can't! 
    Now, I realize that they are all wild animals and should be left as such. They are doing well and look healthy.
   I saw my yearlings in a neighbors yard last week and they still recognize me. They were busy eating shrubbery. I told the neighbors they will do that and they keep planting more. 

      Poor deer!
   
    

[spiderw]

Sadly you hear these stories often and because of development wildlife find their habitat being diminished.  As a result we see so much more of animals we only used to see at zoos or stayed in the forests and woods.  I could say much about how I feel about this but suffice it to say the problem lies with humans and greed. 

I hope the deer are able to find their way to visit but if they cannot, maybe someone as caring as the Wicks will give them love.

[golding76]

IG,

Oh my heavens, how frightening!  Of course it is not the animal's fault if their habitat has been taken away, but, on the other hand, we do not want dangerous critters in our neighborhoods and stalking the children.  

The answer is as plain as day, as they say:  Stop taking away the natural habitats of wild animals.  Allow them to live independently and at a great distance from people in neighborhoods and enterprise.  Greed.  We all pay for the greed of others.

[riley1]

@MamaWick - It breaks my heart when I see this. There is so much building going on its a wonder the wildlife has anywhere to go at all.

Heck, I even pull over and cross the turtles, lol. I love seeing whatever comes into my yard and I have told them they are all welcome to stay but they must get along!

We have a large fountain in the backyard and I have seen coyotes and red fox getting drinks as well as birds bathing. Every now and again an Egret or Blue Heron strolls through.

[Sooner]

Apparently foxes are doing quite well in urban environments according to a show I saw recently.  And they are all over our hood at night--and there is plenty of natural environment very close so they seem to love being in town at night.  

[sophiesofers]

It is a shame that there is so much greed that the poor animals have to lose their homes. I live in New Jersey and OMG, everywhere you look and see open land or woods, some idiot has decided to sell it and start to build on it. Yeah, like we need another strip mall or more houses in this already densely populated state. 

I have beautiful deer that come into my yard all year.  They have plenty of shrubs and such to eat, and every now and then I put out carrots and treats for them.  You want to hear something funny: I bought a beautiful yellow mum for my front porch last week. Each morning I would find petals from the mum on the ground. At first I didn't think much about it. Then I realized, oh those deer, they like my mum.  So I went out and purchased 2 more mums just for the deer.  LOL, because this way when they finish the one, they will have more to munch on.  I know, I'm crazy, but I can't help myself when it comes to animals.