Critters Sweet and Troublesome

Happy Easter!

Spring is in the air and the bears are about. I looked out this morning and saw this bird feeder tipped over. Two feeders that had been on poles were now on the ground, broken open. A suet cake was also on the ground. I guess Mr. Bear did not like it because it was the kind that was seasoned with red pepper to deter squirrels. 

Frank checked our garbage can. It was open and trash was strewn about. A can of pressurized whipped cream was crushed and punctured. I hope Mr. Bear enjoyed it. But I also hope he does not come back! 

I was able to put the brass suet holder back together. It's pretty sturdy! 

The bear also bent one of the metal feeder poles rather badly. I don't know if we can fix it. I also don't know if we can fix the green-roofed suet feeder. It's pretty bent up.

April is the end of bird-feeding season here. I usually stop in mid-April because of bears. It's only a little early, and I had already taken down most of the seed feeders. They needed cleaning and I didn't see the point in filling them up again, knowing that they draw bears.

A neighbor reported today that two bears entered his porch last night and broke into a can of bird seed. 

Bears don't really hibernate here but they den up during cold weather and feed close to home on mild days. In spring they do a walkabout, looking for suitable places to fatten up during warm weather. 

The graylag geese that bit me the other day continue to act mean. I don't know where their nest is and I'm not about to go looking for it! I'm afraid to even go to the mailbox without carrying a broom or something to fend off their nipping. 

They even threatened Frank when he was picking up the trash that the bear had scattered! He squirted them (lightly) with the garden hose and they backed off. A goose can be fearsome even when it doesn't bite. They stretch their neck and hiss, staring at the target which is your legs. No wonder people call them cobra chickens!

On a lighter note, we saw dozens of deer when we drove along Skyline Drive on Thursday. I posted some scenic shots yesterday. Here's a deer.