Tag Archives: winter

The Bobcat

February 5, 2008   Daily Farm Life, Poultry, Winter Farming

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We’ve always known there are bobcats around. Before we moved in a large male sat in the back right corner of the overgrown field. Not long after moving in I saw three young cats in the road. It was surreal, amazing and startling at the same time. Three adorable, seemingly friendly kits that weren’t afraid. Of course, they’re not friendly and I know better than to approach or try to touch them. Bobcat hunters have come to the door to ask permission to hunt. Later, they’d come back to tell me they were leaving so that I could let the livestock out. I kept the animals in to avoid the risk of their dogs meeting up with my animals. I always asked how the hunt went – did they see tracks, did they see enough to think I might have a problem brewing. One set of hunters commented on my dogs. “You can tell where their territory ends. The bobcats have a path 100′ from the dogs’ path.” Having bobcats on the farm isn’t a big deal as long as the population stays small and the natural food supply is adequate.

Five winters ago the snow came in early November. By early February our 5′ fence posts were out of sight. We didn’t see them for six weeks. On May 3 that year we still had 3′ of snow in the woods. This gives you an idea of what a rough winter wildlife had.

As I’ve said many times, we have working farm dogs. They’re here to protect our poultry and livestock, keep them or put them where they belong, and pest control. They are intuitive beyond words. I don’t know how they know when something’s wrong but they do. Taylor had febrile seizures when she was a toddler. Thanks to a family reunion in Boston we were near an excellent hospital the first time she spiked a temp and had a seizure. It nearly killed her. I will never forget the look of a gray, unresponsive baby. The night the bobcat problem started Taylor had a 103* fever. I gave her Advil and put her on the couch to sleep. I sat up in the chair watching to be sure she was breathing. She was 9, hadn’t had a seizure in years, but still…

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Maine Nature News

January 22, 2008   Maine Outdoors

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Maine Nature News

January 16, 2008   Maine Outdoors

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This week’s edition of Maine Nature News is online. I published it yesterday morning and forgot to say so! It’s incredible. The reporters outdid themselves this week.

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Moon and Sun

December 17, 2007   Daily Farm Life

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I added a couple of pics to my nature blog.

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