Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.

~John Muir

While we were away (more on that in a future post), the trail cameras caught some interesting events in our woods. They also caught several deer inside our deer fence for several days due to a fallen tree splitting it (but I am trying to forget that event and its devastating impact on our yard’s wildflowers). Here are some of the highlights of what our wild neighbors were up to in our absence.

What I believe to be the same wobbly young fawn that I shared in my last post is now looking more agile as it follows its mom

–The fawn is growing and able to keep up with mom a lot better now

Yesterday we observed a doe with two wobbly fawns trailing her but they have yet to walk by a camera.

One visitor that hasn’t been seen in quite some time also made an appearance – a Wild Turkey!

–This quick glimpse of a turkey is only the third time in 3 years that the cameras have captured this species

There were a few captures of other birds in our absence: American Crows foraging in the leaves; a very short clip of an Eastern Screech Owl landing on a perch; and two quick clips showing a Red-tailed Hawk chasing a group of crows (payback, no doubt). Then there was this clip of a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk catching something behind a log and then feeding on it, whatever it was.

–I have seen these hawks catch and eat large worms in the past and I am wondering if that might be the prey this time as well

I am always glad to see what the coyotes are up to and this time they gave us some nice glimpses. The female I call “one ear” (because of a deformed or mangled left ear) was seen on several days/nights. Here, she goes about her business, literally.

–One ear takes care of business and then trots off, soon to be followed by…

One of her 4 (or 5, not quite sure) pups trots after One ear.

–One of her pups trots after One ear showing a hint of a limp it seems

One ear gives us a longer view as she stops in front of the camera to scratch. Oh well, we’ll take it even though it is not the most exciting behavior she could share.

–One ear scratches an itch right in front of one of the trail cameras

As always, we are looking forward to what the cameras see in the next week or two.