Thursday
Linda
Pot Hole Farm is surrounded by a plethora of wildlife. Some we are aware of and can see in the open, others are hidden or only come out at night. During the day you can hear an assortment of bird songs echoing through the hills. You may get a glimpse of bright color as they fly from tree to tree or stop by the feeder for a snack. Each has their own distinct sound and if you listen closely you can pick them out individually…Robin, Bluebird, Cardinal, and Red Winged Black Bird to name a few. But if you allow the songs to blur together they form a new song, a beautiful chorus of sound that only nature can produce.
High in the sky you can see the hawk as it floats on the wind currents shrieking out a warning to the scurrying chipmunks and birds that its looking for a meal. You can hear the sharp chirp of the chipmunks as they scamper through the rocks and brush, their cheek pouches full of needed supplies. The lanky grey heron patiently waits by the creek for some minnows. As dusk turns the blue sky pink with the setting sun you might see a group of deer run down the hillside headed toward the lush pasture that lays on the other side of the gravel road. A wild turkey hen gobbles calling in her young. These are the wild creatures we can see, but there are others that are more inconspicuous and only visit in the cover of darkness.
The day is ending and PHF is settling down, but the night life is just beginning for others. The Whipper Will winds itself up, frantically repeating the same phrase as though its had too many cups of coffee. The frogs pile together down at the creekside for a bug and slime party, and a rowdy round of froggy karaoke. On rare occasions the eerie howl of coyotes bounces off the hills down into valley, sending cold shivers up your spine. The hoot owl up in a Sycamore tree hollers to its relative across the way.
In the morning if you take a stroll around the farm there is evidence of night time visitors. Down by the creek the tracks of a raccoon can be seen or those of an opossum. For two years we have had a marauder that empties the bird feeder and rips open the suet basket leaving it discarded on the ground. Evidence was never left behind except the broken feeders. We had suspects but never proof. Was it a fat raccoon? Could it actually have been a bear? Well the perp got sloppy last night and left a foot print. Detective that I am I was hot on the trail and took photos. Here is the evidence, you decide.
Exhibit 1 Broken bird feeder with suet cage ripped off.
Raccoon prints down by the creek. Trying to wash away evidence?
Bear print heading out of the driveway. Hmmm. This would be my guess.
Off-Grid in West Virginia 
Aww crap I left my tracks again!
It was a Bear print not a Big Foot print.
I thought I taught you better Miss Clarissa! You can eat all the seed you want but please quit breaking the feeder!!!!Bad Gurl!!!xoxoxoxLOL
Next time she comes around I will have to make a plaster cast.
if that is a bear track , better put electric fence around bird feeder and strand on top of pig pen before u get piggies
safe than sorry
you are so brave. how wide was the print? iwould be bying some bird shot for the shotgun.
goonie goo goo Gus. LOL Hey seen Big Foot on TV last night….looked pretty real to me!
When I was a kid I had reoccuring nightmares about bears. But when i grew up I met Sonny and found him to be just a big ole poo bear.
The print was around 4″ wide. Apparently he decided last night that he also wanted the humming bird feeder. It didn’t have much in it but the smell must have been over-powering. The “regular bird feeder” was still empty so that one didn’t take anymore damage.
The humming bird feeder was on the other side of the stream.