Opossum bits

A recent walk through the woods unearthed more opossum bones. A jaw bone and scapula. They are pictured below with the top of the skull that I found last year. Maybe a fox got ‘em? Could have been a coyote. We’ve seen both on the trail cam!

Opossum bones collected a year apart (oldest on the left)

Grandfather snail

Snail

Saw this guy on a walk. Doesn’t he look like he’s been through it all? Scratches on his shell, looks like a a bird picked him up and the drops scraped the top a couple times, impressive collection of coils on the shell. It is amazing the things we can observe when we stop and look. While we are social distancing it is a good time to observe the natural world, even if it is a micro environment. Take a break from screen time to chill outdoors if you can. Sit still and watch if you can. Sitting still is hard for me too.

Spring frogs

With the rains and the warmth our spring frogs have emerged! iNaturalist app identifies this one as a cricket frog. Last year was a light year for froglets. The year before you had to watch your step. We’ll see how this year plays out.

Cricket frog (id iNaturalist)

Update on Sunrise: some time in isolation with no nesting areas seems to have done the trick to break Sunrise from her broodiness. I did not have to resort to a wire bottomed cage. Whew!

Sophie brought us a present

Our outdoor/indoor cat Sophie came prancing into the house with a field mouse! A live one. Very live. Amazingly, after praising her for being a good hunter, she let me take the mouse from her. I took the little guy out to the meadow to let him go. Then washed my hands!!

Field mouse before release back outside