Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

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Sweeping Under the Rug to Get at the Ugly Stuff

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A number of people have asked me to post the predator/harsh videos I have collected over the past several years.  Somehow, rewatching the Wolf Re-introduction video is helping me get through this series on Backyard Predators.

I categorize this content as "Ugly" and there is a link, so named, at the top of this blog's home page.  When The UGLY link is marked with a STAR, content less than 1 week old has been posted.  From the beginning of this blog, I made the decision not to post these stories on the home page.  They shouldn't be fed to your inbox if you opted in for post feeds.  They won't show in the "Up Next" section.  Bottom line:  If you want to see this content, you will have to look for it by clicking on The UGLY link.

Software and its users (in this case, me) are known to have flaws.  If things don't go according to design and a post shows up where it doesn't belong (your inbox or the blog homepage):   All ugly content videos are stamped with the word UGLY in bold/red.  Don't open the video if destruction is not your thing!

In the Coming Weeks

I am going to clean out the videos I have saved and get them published.  If you are so inclined, you will read/see stories of several snake attacks, the effect of nest mites on nestlings, how a bird parent deals with a weak nestling, how a bird parent handles deceased nestlings, a hawk attack on a Mourning Dove, the bear attack on the Bluebird house as seen from inside the house, and what happens when "Momma Flyer" doesn't come home.

And now, with a tip-of-the-hat to my snake-loving friends ... we're off.  The first of this series, the oldest dust under the rug, has been posted.

Night Prowler: Black Bear Crosses the Line

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After our little Synchronized Swimming break, the saga of the Black Bear resumes.  The woodland-trasher is on the move ... night prowler begins.  Of course, I had no idea of his prowling until the next day when I played back the camera video.  Then, I watched in true horror as he investigated EVERY empty bird feeding station on the property.

Let's get right to the video -- then I'll drag you through my feelings of horror.

Crossing the Line

It's one thing to maul the feeders in the woods.  It's another thing to climb the fence into the "dog park" and check out those feeding stations.  It's a final straw, however, when you cross over a fence into the space where Drake, the Pit Bull, and I hang out.  I figure it's only a matter of time before this night prowler will be swimming in my pool (well, mostly Drake's pool).

Although everyone who meets Drake is awed by his size, he is not the baddest boy on the planet he thinks he is.  Drake is a pipsqueak compared to Mr. Black Bear.

Black Bear at Fence

Black Bear Size

Drake at Fence

Drake Size

Georgia Wildlife continues to tell me there is nothing they will do -- and nothing more I can do.  It is clear to me:  IF I put ample food out in the woods, the bear is likely to hang out there until he is full -- but he'll be back looking for more.  IF I take all the food away, he knows no limits.  For now, Drake and I stay inside from sunset to sunrise -- not so much for my safety, but for Drake's.

If you don't already know this about me, I don't give up easily.  There's always a solution.  It's my job to find it!  Meanwhile, please don't tell Drake I called him a pipsqueak.