The Answer...WHO goes there?

Did you guess? Notice the almost hand-like front paw and the long good-for-hopping and balance rear paw. 

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

LOOK WHO I FOUND!

There were about 6 of them near a drain pipe that was melting snow and thawing the ground so they could look for worms, grubs and insects. This was the day after we had minus 30 wind chill for two days and the temperatures had just started to rise to the mid-30's. I wonder WHY they didn't fly further south this year? The warm Fall we had this year? I wonder if they are finding enough to eat. 

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

NO Bears at House In the Wood

This is the closest that we get to BEARS at House In The Wood. There are bears in Wisconsin but they are in the northern half of the state. The bear population in Wisconsin has increased and the young male bears are looking for new territory to inhabit. There have been "sightings" of black bears in southern Wisconsin but even these are RARE in Walworth County where Delavan is located. Delavan is just NOT good habitat for bears--little cover, food, space and too many people.

The bear rug in front of Ms Val's fireplace--fake, of course.

The phenology of Wisconsin says that Black Bear Cubs are being born in dens this week but I don't think they are anywhere near Walworth County. Phenology is the study of lifecycles influenced by seasonal and climate changes.

HALT! Who goes there?

I love this time of year when I can see exactly WHO went where...and I can even tell roughly WHEN they did it.

Who goes here? Do you know? Answer coming in later post...

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

Lost In The Woods? Don't Use This!

Have you heard this...
Moss grows on the NORTH SIDE of a tree so if you are lost you know where north is.

Here is some really good moss growing on a tree at House In The Wood.

Tree right outside the office.

And OOPS...it is actually growing on the EAST side of the tree trunk.

Sooo...find north using a DIFFERENT method like the north star or the sun that rises in the east and sets in the west.

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement

copyright Valerie Wright at House In The Wood 

HA! Squirrel-Proof Feeders

This is who is suppose to be on this feeder...

The White Breasted Nuthatch visits a lot.

 And this who else visits...

Say what! I call these my "Furry Birds"

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement.

Our Hidden Neighbors

It's not until the leaves drop that you REALLY know who has been living next door to you. Take a look at who I found...

Bird Nest-one of the marsh birds in a bush. It is made of grasses.

Bird Nest in a tree branch-maybe a ROBIN, they use mud.

Known as a Dray--this is a Squirrels nest. So many of them!

Another Squirrel nest--you can tell because they use leaves in their nest.

Another bird nest in a bush--this one made of twigs.

House In The Wood is operated by Northwestern Settlement