Beavers, Wildlife, and Telepathy? - UPDATE November 26, 2022
Deer eating
This morning, with the temperature a little below freezing, there was a new patch of black on the far shore. The front side of the beaver lodge above where the underwater entrance comes in, was black. Deer looking up
Deer looking up
The snow had melted, making me think there was enough heat coming from the patch of open water, plus body heat, to melt it. We’ll see what happens over the next few days of colder weather.
On Thanksgiving, after Donna and I went to the Grand Ely Lodge buffet, a blue jay looked at us through the window at the WRI—I think sending a telepathic message that it deserved a buffet, too. So I made a peanut buffet, which I think is what it and its flock wanted. It just seemed like the right thing to do in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Today, a deer gave me the same kind of look saying the same thing as I came out onto the second floor deck, so I made the same buffet for her even though Thanksgiving is past. Usually it is four or five deer standing like that looking up at me with the same message. The rest came soon after they heard the peanuts being tossed over the railing.
Blue Jay Buffet
Blue Jay Buffet
Beaver lodge
Beaver lodge
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Then I saw the overnight camera report with a bit of excitement. It included the first mink in a very long time, and a fox. I suspect it is a new fox because it did not come up where the usual fox typically eats on the second floor deck by my window. The food on the second floor deck is still there, and the usual fox is back to its cooked chicken that is hard to beat at a home a half mile away. Glad he is safe.
Two more participants signed up for Black Bear Field Study Courses today, making 39 with 25 to go for a full 64.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center