Category Archives: wildlife

Where the wild things are

March 2, 2020Sunnybook Farm, wildlifesusanmanzke

I’ve heard odd noises outside our house before, but last night really made me think.

First, two neighborhood Tomcats had a face-off. Their yowling on our front porch reminded me of the sound of howling coyotes but worse because it was on our front steps

This time there was no brawling, thank goodness–I hate it when fur flies.

I went out to shoo them away. At least they could take their argument elsewhere. (They are the two who haven’t been neutered yet, but I have an eye on them.)

A calm moment after supper – snapped a while back with critter cam.

Later, I was quietly writing on my laptop at the kitchen table. It was very dark outside–no moon. This time the noise from the porch was different. It was loud and scrapping. It made me catch my breath.

Then I realized what it was.

I turned on the outside light and saw two raccoons finishing up the cat food crumbs the cats had left. As they ate they moved the heavy old enamel meat trays I feed the cats on.

Another photo from my critter cam archives

The two raccoons looked up at me.

I walked away and let them finish.

The next time I looked, one was up on the birdfeeder, finishing the food there, too.

Yes, Sunnybook Farm is where the wild things are. If I have to go outside after dark, I make a lot of noise. The wild things scatter and don’t bother me.

Returning deer

February 26, 2020Sunnybook Farm, wildlife, Wisconsinsusanmanzke

They came from a distance, but their movement caught my eye.

At first, I thought it might be turkeys. When I got out my binoculars, I found it wasn’t feathered friends, but furry ones.

The deer have shown up again on Sunnybook Farm.

The deer to the right looks like it has two heads.

I always appreciate it when deer move a bit closer to our farmyard. Our woods are about a mile off the road.

When I went to feed barn cats, I made a noise and the deer scattered.

It was nice to have them near, even for a little while.

I’ll have to keep my good camera on the ready so I can again zoom in on far-off wildlife. My phone camera is good for closer animals, but not those who keep their distance, like these whitetails.

Daily visitors

January 30, 2020Columns, wildlifesusanmanzke

The birdfeeders Bob made years ago are right outside our kitchen window. Having feathered visitors is a blessing in winter. I hope the seeds I put out are also a blessing for the birds.

It’s a good thing our barn cats are so well fed. They don’t bother the birds at all.

Sudden adoption

September 29, 2019nature, pets, wildlifesusanmanzke

This multiple adoption was not in my plans. It wasn’t until we found abandoned kittens in the barn that I became a mother again.

It took some work getting to the kittens. The mother had left them behind two heavy motors in the old shed shop. Lucky for them they were old enough to pop out from behind the motor so I could grab them one at a time.

There are four in total and they have totally taken over my life.

First, they were housed on the back porch but today they are in our kitchen. This is not the ideal setup for raising kittens. I just hope I’m up for the job. They have made it through a week of bottle feeding.

Keeping them fed is hard enough. The worst part is keeping them clean. Mother cats have a tough job. I just wish their mother had raised them. Hopefully, we’ll have lively kittens to send to new homes in the future. Adopting four might be a bit much for Bob and me.

Nature’s beauty

September 1, 2019nature, photography, wildlifesusanmanzke

I thought I’d share another deer photo taken on our critter cam.

This beauty came to munch on an apple and posed right in front of our camera.

That velvet will be coming off pretty soon. It will take a bit of time for his antlers to shed the outer coating.

I’m afraid his antlers will attract hunters.

I hope to see him again after hunting season.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person