Backyard Zoo

Comments from Backyard Zoo Readers

I was looking for information on white albino squirrel because we have one in our yard I see daily. Were in Hampton Minnesota. I was wondering if its albino? Are they Rare? I was just curious because we have one living here that loves my red oak trees most. Yesterday morning I caught pictures of him in a maple tree here and pictures of him checking out the new shop were building here.

I did enjoy your site, very nice.
Peggy N.

Hi Peggy,

They sure look like Albino's to me.  I have included some of the photos - great shots- click here!

Bonnie

 

 

 From: Bob and Nancy,

I searched altavista under raccoon and your page came up. I need some advice. I hope you can help.

I live in Southern California about 20 miles outside of Los Angeles in a normal suburban type neighborhood. I've lived in this area for going on 37 years, and discovered that a family of raccoons has moved into my cypress trees. Actually my two cats noticed them first. They don't bother each other after an initial stare off. I rather like them, and would like to provide a safer home than the cypress tree.

My questions are these:

1/ I thought I would build a house for them, any idea on what it should look like.

2/ What do they eat. I think they may be stealing dog food from the neighbors dog, and possibly eating trash. I would like to offer a better source of food. any ideas?

3/ One of them is much bigger than the other. I think she may be expecting, but don't know. When do they have their young.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks in advance for any input or ideas you have.

 

Hi Bob and Nancy,

Sounds like the raccoons are entertaining you too. We lived in Hidden Hills in the West San Fernando Valley about 15 years, 15 years ago! Are you near there?

Perhaps our readers will have some substantial input. I will put this up on the comments page and we will see.

I believe raccoons like to live in trees. I don't know about Cypress, ours are Maple and Oaks.

We put out dry cat food, water, and they helped themselves to the bird seed.

They appear in the early summer with their young. That leads us to believe they have their babies in the spring. I don't know how long the gestation period is.

The males appeared too. The females didn't want the males near the babies. I don't know if they were strange males (to them) or if they didn't want to share the food, or if they feared for the babies. Maybe all of the above.

Bonnie

 

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Great site...lots of fun...very creative

Dawn

Hi Dawn,

Thank you for the kudos. I am including them on the comments page.

Bonnie

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I have enjoyed your Backyard Zoo. I live in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and my husband Jerry and I feed deer corn out behind our log cabin on the edge of the woods. We see lots of critters that come to our feeder - raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, doves, but no turkeys, although we hear them calling to each other. I have enjoyed your web page and have bookmarked it. I'm getting a new computer and want to make sure to save it for transfer to my new computer. Clara

Hi Clara,

Sounds like a beautiful place to live. Have you ever seen an albino squirrel? No body has mentioned this photo. We thought it was quite a sight to behold, especially in the summer. In the snow he had perfect camouflage.

Good luck with saving your data for the new computer. What a nice treat for you.

Bonnie

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From: Angel Shanafelter

I just love your backyard zoo! We've been living in the woods for only about eight months now, and I am just enchanted with having wildlife visitors! In fact, I found your web site while searching for information on opossums.

For the last week, I have had two darling little possum youngsters coming onto my deck at night. They were eating the bird feed (it looked more like they were chewing it up and spitting it out), so I started putting them out a bowl of leftovers. Well, after just a couple days of this, they are now on the porch by 7:30 PM looking for supper! They don't mind us gawking at them from the window a few feet away, or walking around and making normal human noise and commotion. And last night, a stray cat came and intimidated them into leaving for a while so he could have some crab salad, too.

So here's my question(s!): Is it OK to feed these little guys? Am I going to make them dependent on me? Are they going to have 20 babies in the spring and then I'll have to buy 50 lb. bags of dog feed to feed them? Do they have any destructive habits that will make my landlord unhappy with me? Am I going to make them unafraid of humans, which will get them shot the moment they walk onto my redneck neighbor's porch (that would be my landlord!)? Will the stray cat eat them right after I fall hopelessly in love with them and give them names? Will they chew up my 5 lb. hairless Chinese crested dog if they ever run into her? Will they get rabid and bite my cats? What in the world do they eat all winter in the wild? Can I teach them to eat out of my hand? And if so, should I not do it, for the above reasons? What happens to them if I move in 6 months (we're looking to buy a house, so it may happen)? Will they starve? Will I be obliged to catch them and take them with us? Will I have to get them fixed so they don't have the above-mentioned 20 babies in the spring? Oh, the moral dilemmas!

I'd just love to make outside wild pets out of them, but I want to do right by them, not just do what would amuse me. Anyway, I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me, since you seem to be quite experienced in this area! Thanks!

Angel

Hi Angel, Thank you for your lovely comments. It sounds like you are having a lot of fun in your woods.

Everything I have read says you should allow wild animals to be wild. (this is a disclaimer). I believe that any wild animal, will protect itself if it feels threatened, by you or a little dog trying to take charge.

However, we have always put food out for the wild animals. Birds, deer, and we have a picture that shows several wild animals eating together from a dish when we lived in California. They were right outside our patio door. So far we have gotten more than enough pleasure watching them, even inviting some in, to counteract any destruction that has come about. We haven't tried to pet them, because we were afraid the other animals would shun them if they had our scent on them. They are not really tame, they just think of our home as another place to find food.

I just put your E-Mail on our zoo site under comments. I didn't put your E-Mail address on it so if there are any replies I will put them up there so others can learn from them..

Bonnie

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I guess you live in Plato Center, Ill. Seems like an interesting spot. I'm envious of your zoo! I don't know if my wife would appreciate a raccoon tearing up the porch.... There pretty strong critters... I once did some research (telemetry studies) of raccoons on St. Catherine's Island, off Savanna , Ga. ..... I know what you mean about them being strong and curious....

The closest I've been to a wild turkey is seeing some tracks in the snow in the Catskill Mts of NY. It would be interesting to see what they look like in the wild.

Anyway nice site, enjoyed the pictures, don't have any to offer.... don't seem to carry a camera with me when I'm hiking.......

bfn

Phil

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Glad you liked the page. Thank you for your comments. I put your note up on the comments page.

One time we were camping in a National Park in Florida and one of the most memorable things was waking up during the night to see the eyes of about 10 raccoons glowing in the dark, in a tree near us. It was like a Disney cartoon!

bfn

Bonnie

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Subject: turkey shots - photo kind

Your page was wonderful!! I was enjoying the read when along came the music - most entertaining!! Gonna give the site info to a friend that just bought a 20 acre farm in Oregon -- they spied wild turkey when they checked the place out!

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Glad you liked the page. I am glad to hear the music is working too. Thank you for your comments. I put your note up on the comments page.

Have your friends moved onto the farm yet? I hope they have a camera ready. It would be great to hear from them too.

Bonnie

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Susan

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Wow. This sounds great. Cougar! Please keep us posted. Thank you for your kind words. I am thrilled you could hear the music and liked it. I put your note up on the comments page.

Bonnie

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I wish I lived there

Joey

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Thank you for your comments. I put your note up on the comments page.

I am very grateful to be living here. My only regret is that our children are all grown up and I can't yell to them to come look at whatever is appearing. The good thing is they (in varying degrees) all have their own backyard adventures going on and love nature too. It is a thrill to know that my love of animals and plants has been multiplied. As a parent of grown children this is a blessing.

I wish everyone could have this love. I guess that is why I am sharing it on the web! It Works! (I know, all you said was you wish you could live here. I must be in a sentimental mood this morning.)

Bonnie

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I love my birds and Squirrels. There is nothing they wont do for a peanut or peanut butter . I have seen one hang up side down by one foot to get sun flower seed from the feeder. They are a great source of joy for me .

Elaine

Hi Elaine,

Thank you for your comments. I put your note up on the comments page.

It is a joy to me too. It tickles me to watch their ingenuity and determination. I have known people that think there is a war and the people are losing!

How do you put out the peanut butter for them?

Bonnie

Let us know if you have enjoyed BACKYARD ZOO, your comments are appreciated.

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Backyard Zoo