Spring Nursery is underway - possums, squirrels & Chickenhawks, Oh My!

2ndtimearound

Chirping
12 Years
Sep 26, 2009
70
0
82
Omaha
Ok the spring nursery, known as our yard, is well underway.
clap.gif
Things are very different this year - so far, we have 2 orphaned baby black squirrels in a cage and FIVE orphaned baby possums!!
We have found seven baby possums so far, but one was already dead and one other one died. It seems like every other day either we find one wandering through the yard or the neighbors find one on their patio and bring it over to go in with the rest! Is anyone else seeing this happen this spring? We believe the Mama-killer is a large adult Red Tailed Hawk that has taken up this territory.
th.gif
We've seen him right up close and he's even swooped us! One evening, he buzzed two small children a block over! That was scary, but he must have realized they were to big to carry off once he got up close to them!

But some of our good friends returned just yesterday - we have a flock of kingbirds that normally roost in a line of trees right across the street - they'll get that Chickenhawk in line in NO time!!
woot.gif
The Chimney sweeps and Barn Swallows are also back, and filled with exuberant delight when we stir up the bugs when we mow the grass or fields! The thing I HAVEN'T seen is what I saw tons of last year - baby Robins going cheep cheep cheep loudly after Mama and baby bunnies under every car and in all the gardens! Where are they? Is it still too early?
hu.gif



No caterpillars yet, or monarch butterflies (but I'm getting ready for them!), but the Cabbage White butterflies are BACK! If you need me, I'll be outside in my gardens!! Or cleaning out the possum's cage!
frow.gif
 
You bet - those possums are ravenous, along with the dog and cat, but we got a friend to help take care of the baby squirrels some days. As soon as they're old enough, we'll send them to the game preserve for release, but apparently, that will be quite a while.
I know that I've seen Mama possums take care of the young ones for quite a while and teach them the routines of hunting and nesting. I'm not sure EXACTLY how many weeks, but I know they are eating and eliminating just fine right now and seem robust, so we'll do what we can. Cross your fingers for them!
 
I've never seen a tiny baby possum- can you post pics? Much as I despise them when they're grown, I'm sure as babies they're really cute!
One bunch of cottontails have already left the nest here. Mom Rabbit made her den in a pretty obvious spot, which the cats soon found... so I covered the nest with a chicken cage and Mom Rabbit would wait for me to move it morning and afternoon so she could nurse the little ones. So adorable!
 
That's really cool - I'm glad the cats didn't kill mom or bunnies! That's what we had last year - a little bunny under every car at sunset and scampering through my garden, but none so far this year.
idunno.gif
Maybe it's still a little early.

But yes, the possums are cute, but not quite as cute as the baby squirrels. The possums have a, um, unique quality (P-U!) that keeps them from being tooo endearing. The hissing and baring of little teeth is sort of off-putting also, but once you put them in your pocket and walk around (pouch time!) they are happy as clams. And they are eating well - fruit, bread, veggies and cat food, lots of water, and they LOVE worms! DH said he's going to the bait shop today for some worms to keep in my refridgerator
tongue.gif
to feed them.
hmm.png
hmm well, at least I won't have to dig for 'em!

Oh by the way, DH is also supposed to be picking up a digital camera today - we'll see if he does (whisper: he's a t-i-g-h-t-w-a-d, shh don't tell!), but if he doesn't, I can use the cam on the laptop to take and upload pics. Been meaning to do that anyway, so stay tuned. I'd love to see your cottontail bunnies also, if you can get them to pose. Have fun with them.
 
pop.gif


Worms- I never would have imagined! Hope you can get some pics. The babies sound like a lot of fun!

Sometimes the young bunnies stop by the salt block for a lick or two, but usually they're tearing around the yard making snorting sounds. I can't believe how fast they grew up.
 
Good news! I got a digital camera for Mother's Day!
celebrate.gif
(Sweet kids!)

As soon as I get batteries and figure out how to upload, there will be PICS! Stay tuned!
pop.gif


I'm so excited.
wee.gif
 
this is the ony black one

41909_black_baby_possum001.jpg


here are two of the grey ones

41909_two_possums002.jpg


ther's one more grey one but i havent gotten a picture of him yet
 
Oh you are so lucky....my sister is a wildlife rehabber too. She raised squirels, possoms several times. Nothing says redneck like taking your possum to florida on vacation with you....she even had to take her bottle fed babies to work with her several times too. They really raise a fuss if not fed on time. And they are so demanding, good thing her boss was understanding. LOL

Jan
 
How can they be so cute?!!
I wish they would stay tiny and precious like that- and not terrify me in the middle of the night when they're bumping around in the garbage can!
Possums just got a bonus point for baby cuteness. Thanks for the pics
smile.png
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom