Fauna and other natural things

[OneMoreYear]

We have a yard bunny (bunnies?)! However, there are varying opinions regarding the bunny:
I think it's cute to see it frolicking in the grass.
SO thinks the bunny is ruining his garden and keeps threatening to find a recipe for rabbit stew.
Ninja (large black kitty) thinks the bunny looks like a fun toy.
Ricochet (squirrelly tortie) thinks the bunny does not look like much of a challenge and is happy to assist SO in his quest for stew if only we would let her outside (after which we would never see her again).
The bunny is apparently happily ignorant to the debate occurring 10 feet away.

We also occasionally have yard deer, which SO describes as "large white-tailed rats"

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

Your SO has my sympathies. We have tree rats (squirrels) and they have been pilfering my blueberries! Not a happy camper.

[waterboy]

So...for birders...is it "pie-leated" or "pill-leated" woodpeckers?  I've always used "pie", but "tomato" "tomahto"?

[namazu]

So...for birders...is it "pie-leated" or "pill-leated" woodpeckers?  I've always used "pie", but "tomato" "tomahto"?

I've always said "PILL-lee-eight-ed", but that's not based on any actual advanced knowledge of the pronunciation.  They're loud and (both literally and figuratively) striking birds!

[nebo113]

So...for birders...is it "pie-leated" or "pill-leated" woodpeckers?  I've always used "pie", but "tomato" "tomahto"?

Pill-ee-a-ted

[apl68]

I thought it was "pie-leated."  But really I just call them "Woody."

[OneMoreYear]

Your SO has my sympathies. We have tree rats (squirrels) and they have been pilfering my blueberries! Not a happy camper.

For some reason, squirrels are not on my SO's list of animals that get a "%$@! [animal-related adjective] rats" moniker.  We don't have berry bushes/trees though. We have installed some garden netting/fencing in hopes that the tomato plants make it.

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

Your SO has my sympathies. We have tree rats (squirrels) and they have been pilfering my blueberries! Not a happy camper.

For some reason, squirrels are not on my SO's list of animals that get a "%$@! [animal-related adjective] rats" moniker.  We don't have berry bushes/trees though. We have installed some garden netting/fencing in hopes that the tomato plants make it.

I know, 'rat' has a negative connotation. I actually prefer rats over squirrels- I used to have them as pets when I was a kid.

[paultuttle]

Our really cute chipmunk is now staying under our wood wheelchair-access ramp during the heat of the day. Earlier in the morning, he/she can be found on our front porch looking for acorns and other edibles.

Frequently, while working these last 3.5 months from home, I have looked up from my desk in our former dining room and enjoyed seeing our completely adorable chipmunk between six and eight feet away--close enough to see its little jaw muscles chewing.

[mamselle]

Alvin!

OKaaayyy, Dave!

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6zDY0DK2H8

(Well, it was just Christmas in June, right?)

M.

[apl68]

My parents are convinced that they've seen bears several times in recent weeks.  What they're describing does indeed sound like black bears.  However, these have all been fleeting sightings from a distance, so I don't know.  Bear sightings are certainly a possibility where they live.  And where I live, for that matter.

[mamselle]

Reduced human movement may be emboldening them.

M.

[RatGuy]

When one of our rats crosses the rainbow bridge, we bury them in a flower pot with a plant that matched their personality. Back in March, we planted some seeds that we got from the Burpee rack at Target in Jasper's pot. Unfortunately, what has grown has now been identified as Canadian Nettle and I might be the world's worst gardener.

On the upside, we did see a fox a few nights ago. She was glorious.

[namazu]

We have our first monarch caterpillars, with more eggs laid today!

They seem to love the hot, humid weather that makes me wilt.

[Thursday's_Child]

Iceland is still having earthquake swarms - the latest is in/around the Reykjanes Peninsula, which has seen earthquakes from magma intrusions off and on all this year.
https://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volcanism/earthquakes