Wildlife encounters.

My daughter and I enjoy watching Animal Planet and to break up the routine, I brought her to the Old Mission Dam in San Diego to hike around and hopefully seesome wildlife. This area is one of the few undeveloped areas that chances are you will see possums, raccoons, coyotes and various other critters. About 15minutes into the hike we came accross a small bridge to cross over the San Diego River. On the bridge was a sign warning that Mountain Lions have beenobserved in the area recently. Obviously, we decided to call it a day and walked back to my truck. It seemed amazing that they would be that close to the urbansprawl. Maybe the recent fires have brought them to this area. Anyway, with all the modern gadgets that kids have today, I wouldn't trade growing up in SanDiego as a kid and exploring the canyons, streams etc and catching snakes,lizards, frogs and toads. Half the fun was exploring these areas and after a few dayscaptivity letting the creatures go. I would have to say I have seen alot more nature in the ocean. Mostly dolphins and seals and in La Jolla, leopard sharks. Afew years ago I stepped on a stingray and got nailed. Very painful indeed. From that point on, I got the stingray shuffle wired. Anyone else have any wildlifestories?<br>Dave.

I have a few but i'm off to bed right now. I'll get back with you soon!<br>Tim

I have dozens of great stories, but I'll share just 1 right now.<br>We live in rural Oregon, and have LOTS of wildlife around. A few years back my wife and I spotted a small group of deer down by our pond. She said she wasgoing to see if she could feed them, so she went in and chopped up an apple and slowly approached them. They didn't run away. She tossed a few pieces theirway and they came over and ate the pieces. She did this for a couple weeks with them getting closer each time. She started buying cobb (corn, oats, and barley)and put out small piles for them. Their numbers and size grew. She now has a herd of about 2 dozen that come almost everyday for a little cobb, and some pets!.That's right, pets! The friendliest ones are 2 very large bucks that were just little spikes when she started feeding them. I'm talking HUGE! Ifyou've seen the pictures on TTP of a lady feeding 2 large bucks, that's them. They eat out of her hand and get a little scratch on the forehead. Theyhave never showed any type of agression towards her, except for a little nudge one gave her when she was petting one and he wanted some pets too! It's therut here right now, and they go off for a few weeks and sow their oats. She always gets lonely and nervous this time of year, because we never know when or ifthey will come back. We heard a loud shot nearby the other day, and have not seen them recently. They do disappear for about 3 weeks, so it isn't unusual.Hopefully they will return.<br>It's always fun to see the does come around in late spring to show off their little spotted offspring. The little ones are very curious and since the momsdon't show any fear of Tena, they come right up and put their noses on her legs to see what this unusual thing is.<br><br>One more with the bucks.<br>About a year ago, my wife and step-daughter rescued 2 stray kittens (small cats actually) down the road where somebody had dumped them. The coyotes werehowling and most likely got a couple of their siblings. They were skinny, scared and needed some vet care. We took care of these cats and they are the mostmellow cats I've ever seen. They make friends with everybody, even our wolf mix dog. The deer know that cats are predators, and were spooked by them atfirst, and a few times the deer chased them and attempted to stomp them, but eventually came to lick them. That's right, that isn't a typo! One day oneof the (now cats) was up on our deck and had it's hair all sticky and matted. We wondered what had happened and then found out the next day when we saw iton my tractor seat getting a tongue bath by the biggest buck. That buck stood there and licked the cat for a full 10 minutes, stopping to cough out somefurballs every minute our two. These cats and deer are now good friends. I hope to get a video of this when they return and put in on youtube. It's prettyamazing to see.<br>If anybody could help me post a picture here, I'll be glad to show a couple shots of the deer.<br>Paul<br>

<font color="#0000FF" size="4">Paul your stories are awesome! I want to see pics. You can email them to me and I'll post them for you (</font><a href="mailto:kmacph@shaw.ca"><font color="#0000FF" size="4">kmacph@shaw.ca</font></a><font color="#0000FF" size="4">). I'm off to take kids to school right nowbut I'll check for pics when I get back.<br><br><br>~Karen</font>

Karen, YHM. I also sent you a short video clip. I hope you can view it.<br>I have another story that's pretty cool.<br>A few years ago while "turning over the garden". I stuck the shovel in the ground and heard some crying sounds. I thought I had chopped a mole orgopher in 1/2. I started digging a little and came to a pile of straw, which was wriggling. I opened up the ball of straw and found about 6 tiny little groundsquirrels! I had disturbed their nest, but didn't harm any of them. I looked up and saw their mother neverously watching me from a few feet away. Icarefully covered them back up and decided to wait until later to figure out what to do with them. They were cute little blind things about the size of mice.The next day I noticed that mother had moved them from the enclosed fence of the garden to a pile of rocks a few feet outside of the garden. She must havesensed that I didn't mean her or her children any harm. From that day on, she had no fear of me. Normally ground squirrels are a little skiddish. She wouldcome to within just a few feet of me while I was watering or working in the garden. She loved to eat the clover around my putting green and would lay out flaton the green and eat the clover on the fringe. She has never dug even 1 hole in the green.<br><br> BTW, the deer love the putting green, especially around early Oct. when they are sparring. They think they have their own private sparring rink. Nice flat,soft groung to gouge up. I consider them part of the "grounds crew", although their sporatic method aeration and fertilizing leaves a lot to bedesired!<br>I no longer try to chase them off the putting green. They use it a LOT more than I do.<br>

<p><font color="#0000FF" size="4">Cute story about the ground squirrels. No video came through. I only got the pics. Here they are. Talk about awesome!<br></font><br><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/twinny4/Pauls%20pics/more_deer_005.jpg" alt="image"><br><br><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/twinny4/Pauls%20pics/more_deer_003.jpg" alt="image"><br><br><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/twinny4/Pauls%20pics/more_deer_001.jpg" alt="image"><br><br></p><blockquote> Anyway, with all the modern gadgets that kids have today, I wouldn't trade growing up in San Diego as a kid and exploring the canyons, streams etc and catching snakes,lizards, frogs and toads.</blockquote><p><font color="#0000FF" size="4">I know what you mean Dave. We grew up by a creek (it was actually part of our school grounds. Stoney Creek Elementary was thename of our school) and loved to go exploring in the spring and summertime. We'd catch minnows, frogs, snakes, etc. It was so much fun.</font> <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/happy.gif" alt="image"><br><br><br><font color="#0000FF" size="4">~Karen</font></p>

When I lived in Carrollton, TX they built a new nature trail park off of one of the main drags. It had about 2-3 miles of concrete and some dirt trails aswell. Sure e'nuff Mountain Lion signs were posted and I had accounts from several people that a juvenile cat had been spotted. One year I went to Yosemiteand was walking w/ wife in tow w/ camaera. Spotted a large Bobcat about 25-30 yards upwind. Whispered to wife over shoulder behind me, "If we are quietand patient we should be able to close half the distance and get some real nice close-ups. Well I got close before the cat took off and asked my wife if shegot any good pics....I looked behind me and saw her running the other direction!<br><br>So no pics...<br><br>Amazing but true!

Karen, thanks for posting the pics. The video clip was returned to me. The file was too large.<br><br>Dave, I grew up in So.Cal myself. I grew up in a time when kids could go exploring without having to worry about the child molestors and kidnappers. I am suresome were around, but it didn't keep us from being adventurers. My best childhood memories were from those times of exploration, finding and catchingtadpoles, frogs, lizards and once in awhile a snake. Then we would have to catch some field mice to feed the snake! I've always liked lizards and have agreat story to tell about one.<br><br>Again in my garden: Around the time of the baby squirrel incident, I was weeding the garden and was alerted by a "rustling sound". I turned to find alizard running up the corner post in the garden, which is wood and about 6 feet high. He scampered to the top of the post and was peering down at something. Ilooked over and saw a "racer" type snake. I've seen lots of garter snakes and even a Rattler nearby but not one of these fast, striped ones. Iwas somewhat between the snake and the lizard on the post. The snake would start towards the post and I would step towards it. It would stop and stare at me,then move towards the post again and I would take a step. It was really funny if you saw it. The lizard the whole time was looking at me, looking at the snake,looking back at me.<br>The snake started up the post and I went and stared at it up close (about 2 feet) It decided to go back down the post and look for lunch somewhere else. Itreally was a funny scene.<br>Later that day, while on my deck I looked over the rail and spotted the snake again. He was curled up on a rock, sunning himself contentedly, while digesting alarge lizard. He apparently found another one because he had a pretty good sized lump in his belly. I chased him off and didn't see him again, nor myfavorite large black (blue bellie) lizard that always hung out around my deck.

<blockquote> Whispered to wife over shoulder behind me, "If we are quiet and patient we should be able to close half the distance and get some real nice close-ups. Well I got close before the cat took off and asked my wife if she got any good pics....I looked behind me and saw her running the other direction! <br><br></blockquote><font color="#0000FF" size="4">LMAO!!! I hope that taught you a lesson. Always carry the camera yourself so you don't miss any good shots!<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif" alt="image"><br><br>Cute story about the lizard Paul. Years ago I saved a mouse from being eaten by a neighbour's cat. It was so cute, had big ears like Mickey Mouse. The cathad it in its mouth and I ran after it to try to get him to let go. The cat was too fast so I grabbed his tail and pulled as hard as I could. The cat screamedand dropped the mouse. <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/devil.gif" alt="image"><br><br><br>~Karen</font>

most of my encounters with wildlife end with a loud bang or the swoosh of an arrow. I did have a lion charge me at the zoo once...that scared to s&amp;%t rightout of me!!! good thing there was a strong fence.

<blockquote> I did have a lion charge me at the zoo once...that scared to s&amp;%t right out of me!!!</blockquote>That reminds me of the time at a zoo when my ex was staring through the glass at a gorilla who apparently didn't like to be stared at.<br>The gorilla came as close to the glass as he could get and slammed his fist against it right where my ex's head was. It was pretty scary at the time, butyears later I wished the glass had broke. <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/devil.gif" alt="image"><br>

now Andrea, thats not very nice....<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/roll.gif" alt="image">

Wow!!!!! Those are AWSOME pictures of the dear!!!!! Great stories. Andrea, Tooooooo Funnnnyyyy!!!!!!<br><br>Rich

Two weeks ago, I was completely startled to see a doe that was larger than the bucks in Karen's pictures, in the back yard of a neighbour's home. Itwas around 3:30pm, which is completely odd for deer to be out and about at that hour, much less the size of the doe. I have never seen one that big thatwasn't in the bed of a pickup truck on the way to the processor.<br><br>A little background... when we moved out here, we were in the boonies. My high school was eight miles east of us, in a little burg of under 11,000 people. Thatlittle burg is now closing in on 100,000 city population - not including their metro area. Our area got swallowed up by the urban sprawl years ago. We aresurrounded by highways on three sides and nothing but apartment complex construction on the fourth and I'm sure more highway soon to follow.<br><br>It's not uncommon to see deer out here, but sadly it's usually on the side of the road. How a doe that size managed to get that large, much less end upin our area, is fantastic. Seeing her at 3:30 in the afternoon was another rare sight, considering that the neighbour whose yard it was in has a hyper ParsonRussell Terrier and a huge Boxer and neither saw the doe and came out to bark at it. I was completely dazed by this. Even if I had a camera in my hands, Iwould have been too enthralled to remember to take a picture. The mental picture will be with me for a long time, at least.<br><br>Like LA, we also have urban coyotes. It's kinda cool, but there have been so many cases of rabid bats found this year and the number of other rabid animals(especially raccoons) it does cause concern.<br><br>At least I still have our three species of geckos, green "chameleon" anoles and snakes when neighbours call me to come remove them. I don't thinkthat they'll be calling me when they find deer in their yards, though.

Awesome stories everyone! I also love the pictures of all the bucks. One morning about 5:00 a.m. I was leaving to go four wheeling with some friends. I loadedmy truck the night before so all I had to do was back out of the drive way and head for the hills. Well my wife ask me to take some things out to the mailboxbefore I left. After putting the mail in the box I turned to go towards my truck and noticed a lump in the road behind my truck. I walked over to see what itwas. It's still dark at this time so I had no clue of what it was just yet. I gave it a slight nudge and to my surprise it rolled back toward me resistingmy pokes. I thought it might be a fawn so I picked the little bundle up and it's long slinky legs dropped down from under it. If I hadn't walked to themailbox for my wife the fawn would of been run over when I backed out of the drive way.<br>It wasn't much bigger then my foot. Our cat was much bigger then the fawn but not as tall.<br>I ended up taking it to a local deer farm that cares for wounded or abanded deer.<br>I love this topic.<br>Tim<br><img alt="image" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/bambi1.jpg"><p><br></p><img alt="image" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/bambi9.jpg"><p><br></p><img alt="image" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/bambi10.jpg"><p><br></p>

Tim,<br>That's a really cute, young fawn there. I'm glad you turned it in to people that know how to care for them. Unfortunately you probably should haveplaced it off the side of the road a ways for the mother to find it. Many people take in fawns thinking they were abandoned or lost. You may have saved it fromgetting hit though. I don't know the traffic in your area.<br>Great pics.<br>Paul

here's a little fellow we encounter will diving ,hes a Puget sound king crab the big ones can reach 10 to 12 lbs ,add 1/2 pound butter WoW!<br>murray<br><img id="photo" title="dive pics 437.jpg" alt="dive pics 437.jpg" src="http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/fce2543cc01cedd3898bf800d97cb7768a80280.jpg">

<font color="#0000FF" size="4">Tim I remember when you first told us that story. Thank God your wife needed something mailed! What a cute little fawn. Iwouldn't have wanted to let it go. Just too cute.<br><br><br>~Karen</font>

finally I've gotten a chance to post some of the pics from my last anniversary... kinda off topic.. and some might remember the sunset pic I posted... butas our trip was coming to a close we finally caught the local wildlife park on a day they were open for a lookee-lou or yokel or two... enjoy the show!<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/015.jpg" alt="image"><br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/012.jpg" alt="image"><p><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/013.jpg" alt="image"><br>the Oregon coast... ahhhhhhh can't you smell that breeze! now for the wild life... speaking of deer...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/035.jpg" alt="image"><br>this little bugger kinda creeped me out...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/036.jpg" alt="image"><br><br>here's more of the 'pack' will elaborate more little later...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/038.jpg" alt="image"><br>now for the star feature of this place (if you ask me) just call him whitey!<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/039.jpg" alt="image"><br>Albino Bengal Tiger if I remember right... they'd let you come in and sit down with this little critter...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/047.jpg" alt="image"><br>now for the next star of the show... Mrs. Brew... my lovely assistant... I'm still trying to talk her into joining this family... still thinks we'renuts!<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/056.jpg" alt="image"><br>more of the little star...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/057.jpg" alt="image"><br>really digs his 'bottle'<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/055.jpg" alt="image"><br>I got to sit with him too... but no one wants to see that... cant remember this next bugger's title... very alert I might say... we were all'lunch' to him...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/058.jpg" alt="image"><br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/059.jpg" alt="image"><br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/061.jpg" alt="image"><br>this one reminds me of a couple of guys I know...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/074.jpg" alt="image"><br>this one a few of you have seen at a distance... but did you know they looked like this?!?!<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/114.jpg" alt="image"><br>think this was another form of raccoon... also mighty friendly with his bottle...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/115.jpg" alt="image"><br>albino sloth... trippy looking fer sure...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/117.jpg" alt="image"><br>just yer friendly Aussie saying... "HEY... whatcha got in dem pockets?!?!"<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/122.jpg" alt="image"><br>more of the flock...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/132.jpg" alt="image"><br>these ones were walking thru... bleetin' blaatin and just generally making a ruckus among us...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/133.jpg" alt="image"><br>now for the BIG BOYS!!!!!!! guess I came a bit too late... after feeding time and all...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/137.jpg" alt="image"><br>not sure if this one was eying me for a meal... or a scratch between the ears... I'm leaning toward the latter...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/141.jpg" alt="image"><br>this one followed me and just wouldnt let me walk away... this one was a toughie to leave...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/145.jpg" alt="image"><br>ol' Leo was feeling a touch more photogenic for this one...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/148.jpg" alt="image"><br>money shot!!!!!!!!!!!<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/149.jpg" alt="image"><br>lastly... little bit of wildlife in the parking lot as we leave... didnt realize the were legal to keep as pets... but wadda I know...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/154.jpg" alt="image"><br>hope you've enjoyed the show.. this place is a little outside of Bandon... worth the bux if you can... over and out!<br><br><br></p>

<p>oops... doubled up... might as well post another one I forgot to put up...<br><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/brewharriah/152.jpg" alt="image"><br>getttin' awfully close to 5K... feel a contest coming on!!</p>

Outstanding photos Brew! The Oregon coast.....breathtaking.<br>Love the big cats. The way they chill is exactly like the little cats that are currently sacked on my couch.

Great stuff, everyone - thanks for posting all the stories and pic's!<br><br>I ride my bicycle a lot on canyon roads in the Santa Monica mountains, which are only a 30-40 min. ride from the City. I've seen deer, coyotes, raccoons,skunks, peacocks, roadrunners, and, twice, mountain lions (puma). Been chased by Coyotes... ya know you're in trouble when there's more than one!<br><br>Greg

One year my wife and I decided not to cover our swimming pool because we were gonna drain it and get a new liner the following year anyway. Well when springrolled around it was full of tree frogs and tadpoles. We decided to wait untill they were all gone before draining it. The frogs would croak all night long,calling back and forth to one another. I would often go out with the flashlight just to watch them. One night I found a mating pair or so I thought it was. Iwatched them for a long time (not because they were mating) and they never seperated. I decided to catch them and slightly tugged at them and they appeared tobe one. Here are the pictures once again.<br>Tim<br><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/twins1.jpg" alt="image"><p><br></p><img height="480" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/thetwins5.jpg" width="640" alt="image"><p><br></p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/twins7.jpg" alt="image"><p><br></p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/twinsnhand.jpg" alt="image"><p><br></p>

I met a bear face to face once.<br><br>It wasn't really as dramatic as it could have been. It was just a cub of about 75 lbs. I used to do some hiking and camping in Southern Oregon and thisparticular occasion I came around a bend on an old dirt road and there was this cub about 20 feet in front of me. We both stopped and looked for just a splitsecond and then, without making a sound except for footfalls on the earth (reminded me of the pitter-patter of little feet), the cub ran about 50 feet to atall fir and scampered halfway up. As soon as he started running, I perked my ears up and started looking around in all directions in case there was an angrymother nearby. I always carried my 30-30 strapped to my backpack so I got hold of it and was ready for anything. I waited quietly for just a minute or so,didn't hear or see anything, then proceeded up the road. I was probably a mile away before I put my rifle away.<br><br>Gramps<br>

<font color="#0000FF" size="4">Tim too awesome! Siamese frogs? Do you have any pics of the pool with frogs and tadpoles in it? I love frogs! I would love tofind my pool full of frogs!<br><br><br>~Karen</font>

Paul, had he not taken the fawn to a rescue organisation, it probably would have died. If it's mum was anywhere nearby, she would have gone all Mike Tysonon Tim. They only leave fawns in the brush to avoid being seen by predators. Chances are, the mother was run over on a nearby highway or street, so Tim did theright thing. Well, except for the picture of it near his cat, who appears to have the word "breakfast!" written on its face.<br><br>Asa - gorgeous pics, bro! It SO made me miss surfing. That cove looks totally peaceful. As for the big cat whose name you didn't remember - it's Bob.They don't get that big, but they can stand down a cougar if necessary. The white tiger isn't albino. It's a formerly super-rare variationthat's a lot more common these days. More tigers exist in private collections in Texas than anywhere else in the world. No kidding. Lotta weirdos in thisstate keep them as pets and white ones aren't uncommon beause of demand for them by other idiots who think they make great pets. The oppossum is also notalbino. Albinos have pink eyes. We have white and two-toned 'possums here, including one that scares the crap out of my mother (and occaisonally me when Idon't expect to see it when I'm getting something from the shed at night). It's H U G E, too.<br><br>Oh yeah, and I'm pretty sure the canid in the back of the truck in the parking lot is a hybrid. It's probably 3/4 wolf though. Gorgeous little dude.<br><br>Tim - COOL frogs! I rarely see any frogs here these days, but plenty of native toads and a number of rare species. Dare I mention the "E" word? heh<br><br>Oops. Asa again: what was it about the goat that creeped you out? Was it the eyes? They creep me out too and they always seem to pick me to butt with theirheads. Maybe it's because I'm a big gal and they gotta try that domination thang. I usually grab 'em by the horns, lock onto them and ask ifthey're familiar with what "cabrito taco" means. <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif">

<img alt="image" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/frogs5.jpg">

<img style="width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/beachbomb/frogs5.jpg" alt="image"><br><br>Are those the satisfied frogs.........<span style="font-style: italic;">after the fact? <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif" alt="image"><br><br></span>Great pics and stories everyone!!! <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/happy.gif" alt="image"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br></span>

No Andrea those are two different frogs. I never did see the other two/one seperate. There were close to a dozen adult tree frogs living in our 21' pool.<br>I have a few other stories to add later.<br>Tim

Kitty,<br>I am extremely familiar with deer and fawns. Fawns hide while the mothers forage. They do this all the time. Normaly they are well hidden in the underbrush.When I worked as a Ranger in Sequoia, we would get visitors coming in with fawns they had "rescued". In reality, they normally gave them a deathsentence. Unless there was a dead doe nearby, most likely this fawn had a mother out there. It may have been spooked from the underbrush and ended up on theroad. The best thing would have been to place the fawn off the road aways. The mothers will come back into the area a "bleat" for them at which pointthe fawns will usually follow the sound of the mother. Believe me, I do know about these things.<br>BTW, I have never once heard about a doe attacking a person over their fawn. They don't go Mike Tyson as you have suggested. Bucks may do this during therut on rare occasions, but not does.<br>If you do find a fawn alone, leave it that way. Most likely the mother will come find it. If not, it is the way of nature. If you know for sure a mother waskilled in an accident or shot then by all means, bring it to a place that can care for it.<br>Paul

<font color="#0000FF" size="4">Tim that first pic is HUGE! Any way you can shrink it down so we don't have to scroll waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayover to read all the replies? <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif" alt="image"><br><br><br>~Karen</font>

O.K., time for a Bear story.<br>I worked as a Ranger for a few years in Sequoia National Park in the Mineral King area. I was known as the "Bear Guy" for a couple years. If a bearwas in a campground causing problems, I was usually the one to handle it. Bears liked to go into the campground to test the campers. The campers that ran totheir cars and locked the doors and rolled up the windows were easy pickings. They bears would just clean up their picnic table and go through their coolers tofind whatever they could. Wrong thing to do. The right thing to do was stand your ground, yell at them and throw rocks in their direction to discourage them. Ihave never known of a bear to attack an agressive camper in Sequoia or any campground I know of. The bears know the drill. They are extremely smart and have agood memory. They knew me on sight. If they saw me, they would usually high tail it out of there very quickly.<br>I usually discouraged the bears by yelling at them, throwing rocks at them and chasing them into the brush and then chasing them more until either I or themgot too tired to run any more. (usually me, but after much effort and distance from the campers) My weapons were usually rocks, a sling shot, or a paint ballgun, which left no doubt as to who the bad bears were, although I could usually tell them from one another without the yellow spots.<br>One year we had a particularly bad problem with bears. The berries were scarce and there was more than the usual problems in the campgrounds and cabins. I wasallowed to take it to the next level, which was to use plastic bullets when necessary. I was the only Ranger in the park that was authorized to do this. Ibought pieces of meat and tested the plastic bullets from different ranges to find the affect it would have. I found that at a distance of approx. 25 yards, Icould sting them pretty good without breaking skin or causing any real damage. The sound and sting was a little more effective than the paintballs or slingshots.<br>One weekend after several days of problems I was called to handle a problem bear. I showed up at the campground in the morning and found him scrounging in acamp site, with a loaf of bread in his mouth. When he spotted me, he kicked it into high gear. I was on him quickly and chased him from the campgrounddirectly. I drew my .357 at the edge of the campground when the distance was about right and pulled off a couple of shots with the plastic bullets. Out of thecorner of my eye, I noticed a few campers diving for cover! They had no idea I was using plastic bullets with much less powder than a real round and werepretty alarmed as you can imagine. Afterwards I had to go to every campsite and explain what was really happening. One guy even got it all on tape.Unfortunately he never sent me a copy. I would loved to have seen that one!<br>Ranger Paul

the sloth was albino... not the possum... it was the cross eyed thing that was so funny...<br><br>...and that pygmy goat didnt even wanna try taking on someone as large as I<br><br>

<blockquote> the sloth was albino... not the possum... it was the cross eyed thing that was so funny...</blockquote><br>Asa,<br><br>My 7 yr old son spotted that right away. I diddn't even realize he was looking over my shoulder when I hear,<br><br>"WHOA checkout that possum!"<br><br>He had me blow it up and print it for him.<br><br>~Joe<br>

Oops. I said opposum. I meant sloth. It's not albino either. It would be pure white. The term for that type of colouring is called leucistic oroccasionally in some camps, partial albinism. I think that's the group that can't convince itself that not everything with white hair is albino. I havea picture of an albino fawn. It's a true albino and although quite precious looking, in one picture you can really see the red eyes, which makes it looklike one of the "Woodland Critters" from South Park.<br><br>I have seen albino 'possums. They aren't that uncommon here, although more rare in my area now due to a mated pair of hawks and a mated pair of owls inthe small patch of remaining forest next to our house because the white ones are easier to spot and thus more likely to become food. They're actuallybringing in rabbits from other areas! No kidding. The're being captured in areas where they have become pests and are moving them here. They'll diehorrible deaths (starvation and/or disease) if left where they are now, so why not give them a chance, as well as bring in a new source of food for theraptors, you know?<br><br>I doubt that the owls or even the hawks will tangle with the 'possum my mother and one neighbour have spotted, though. My mother describes it as the sizeof a pit bull. My neighbour agrees that it's quite large. Maybe it moved in here from the area that once was (supposedly) a nuclear waste staging area? heh

Kitty,<br>I love the big birds. Especially the owls. Their different and I guess that's the attraction for me. Owl babies are some of the ugliest babies you'llever see. Here's a eagle video on youtube. It takes down a deer.<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/eek.gif" alt="image"><br>Tim<br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsXtDKdU0Q">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsXtDKdU0Q</a><br><br>

I've seen that eagle video. It's pretty amazing. It looks like the eagle might have been injured.<br>Paul

Bird Story:<br>I worked for a few years in the oilfields near Long Beach ca. One day we spotted a Giant Blue Heron in one of the oil sumps. I was able to get it out and putit in a large box. I called the wildlife rescue place, and they weren't that interested, but told me to use dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water toremove the oil. I took the huge bird home and started cleaning it. I held it by the beak with one hand and washed it with the other. It's actually a 2person job, as I soon found out. It calmed down after a few minutes and so I thought it was safe to let go of it's beak. WRONG! That sucker tried to pluckmy eyball right out! I turned my head slightly when I saw that huge fish stabber coming at me, but it still got me. I was able to close my eyelid, which savedmy eye. His beak penetrated my eyelid and a millimeter into my right eye. The force sent me to the ground and temporarily blinded me. I staggered to the phoneand called the wildlife place again. GET DOWN HERE AND GET THIS BIRD OR IT'S DEAD! They were there in fifteen minutes and I was at the doctors 15 minutesafter that. I had to take all these antibiotics to keep the infection down. The doctor said if I hadn't turned when I did or get my eyelid closed, hesurely would have plucked it right out of my head!<br>Paul

<font color="#0000FF" size="4">OMG Paul that bird/eye story is ....well....EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! Thank God you turned and closed your eye when you did. Icouldn't and WOULDN'T want to even imagine what it would feel like to have a bird peck your eyeball out. Makes me think of The Birds when the womanfinds the guy dead on the floor and both his eyes have been pecked out! <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/sick.gif" alt="image"><br><br><br>~Karen</font>

Paul, that's pretty heavy. I have seen quite a few blue herons in San Diego and they certainly ain't small.<br>If you have a backyard pond with koi without a net, those herons will find them and wolf them down in a heartbeat.<br>Dave.