Odd couples

On By CarynIn Cats, Wildlife

I’ve had a few interesting interactions caught on the trail cam of unexpected pairs.

Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of a raccoon on a bench and a tabby cat walking on the nearby porch. The cat spotted the raccoon and slipped on by.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of two opossums, which is unusual because they are solitary. As soon as the one on the ground noticed the one on the bench, the moment was over and it left.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of an opossum on the coop porch and a raccoon on hind legs looking at it. The opossum actually held its ground, but the raccoon didn’t care. The raccoon got onto the porch, checked for snacks, then left, all while the opossum huddled against the door.
Photo description: night vision trail cam photo of an opossum on the ground, and a short haired black cat stepping down off the porch. The cat carefully navigated around the opossum.

I have my trail cam set to take photos every three seconds when there is movement, so the shots on either side of the ones I selected above told me the story. I chose the most representative photo to share.

From this set of data, it seems the raccoons are top, then opossums, and then the cats come in last, giving the others wide berth.

Nothing nefarious

On By CarynIn Cats
Photo description: long haired calico, short haired black cat, and brown and black tabby taking a walk through the woods in a line, trail cam capture

Cat family dynamics are interesting in my neighbor’s colony. In the picture above, the calico in the lead is the momma cat, and the two behind her are her adult kittens. This is a typical scene, with her leading and her brood not far behind. They have all been fixed, and maybe that has something to do with the easy going attitudes.

Chase scene

On By CarynIn Cats

Here is an amusing trail cam capture. I’m sure the fight wasn’t funny, but the frozen chase is an unusual find.

Photo description: chase scene with a long haired calico running from a short haired black cat, both captured with back paws up

There were no photos on either side of this one with these two cats, so I assume the chase was all that was within the camera’s field. It is set up to take photos every three seconds, so those cats were indeed high-tailing it.

I’m surprised that I don’t see more chases and fights on the trail cam, honestly.

Stocked

On By CarynIn Wildlife

We went to the Fort Worth Zoo the other day and I got a kick out of seeing the wild heron fishing at the fish stocked hippo tank.

Photo description: slightly damp heron standing at the edge of the hippo pool, which is full of fish as seen through the glass on the bottom half of the photo

Fish are kept in the hippo pool as a natural cleaning crew for dung, algae, and hippo skin.

Pollen

On By CarynIn Flora

Spring is not a happy time in this Texas household. Everyone is upping their allergy medicines, and buying stock in Kleenex. It’s pollen season.

Photo description: pollen making a normally black vehicle yellow, the letters “achoo” written with a finger in the layer of pollen

Sniff.