Subj : Re: Wild turkeys
To   : MIKE POWELL
From : Rob Mccart
Date : Sun Jun 01 2025 01:20:00

MP>I have not encountered any mink,
  >etc., here, but did encounter one at a small boatdock in northern Minnesota
  >once.  I wondered if it was not a pet, or maybe used to being fed, as it
  >seemed interested in seeing me (vs. running away).

It's a few years since I saw one here actually, but I was quite surpised
back when I did. I was walking past some bushes near my place and one
stuck it's head out and Hissed at me like a cat, so I would say that
usually they are not all that human friendly..    B)

MP>Deer are *everywhere* here.  Too many of them, IMHO.  Coyote can be heard,
  >but I have never encountered one.  Bear are starting to get closer to the
  >area (coming from the mountains to the east).

Yes, too many deer in a lot of areas. We kill off all their preditors
and even feed them in winter and their population grows faster than the
limited hunting season can reduce their numbers.

MP>I was disappointed that, when I was in Canada, I did not see a moose.  ;)

In any area where there are quite a few people around you rarely see one.
I once watched 4 of them swim across from Franklin Island almost to
our beach here, which was a surprise. And one day a bigger surprise
when driving through Parry Sound, right in town one popped out of a
wooded area beside the road, saw my car, and turned away from me and
ran down the pavement in front of my car for a few hundred feet before
thinking better of it and veering off the road again..

At my mother's place in town we often used to see 3 or 4 deer together
sometimes stopping to eat grass on the back lawn or crossing the
rather busy street into the cemetary across the road to graze there.
And this is right in town with 50 feet between houses and relatively
busy traffic. They get very brave when it's not hunting season..
They are also quite good at looking both ways before crossing..   B)

Of course, that's not all the visitors we get. The next door neighbour
left a recreation room walkout open so his dog could get in and out
one nice day, and when he came into the room a little later, he found
a black bear in the room eating the food out of the dog's bowl.

The chicken dog didn't so much as bark, although he didn't look
happy about it. Again, that was right in town. Out where I am
you expect things like that and protect yourself better.
You only make the mistake of leaving your garbage in the car
overnight to take to the dump the next morning once..    B)

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 * SLMR Rob  * The only worthwhile feminist movement involves lingerie
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