We have a loquat tree in our back yard. The loquat is native to China but has a widespread range; in the USA, however, it’s generally limited to southern states. We had never seen one before we moved to Horseshoe Bay, and even here they’re not very common, but we’ve grown fond of it. It’s… Continue reading The Mystery of the Disappearing Loquats
Category: Wildlife – Mammals
Armadillos R Us: A Trapping Update
Update (4/2/2020): Add one more to the armadillo count below; another one became an involuntary guest early this morning. And, yes, succeeded in waking me up at 3:30 a.m. in the process. People have been clamoring* for a trapping update from Casa Fire Ant, and I respond to nothing if not clamoring. Here’s a snapshot… Continue reading Armadillos R Us: A Trapping Update
Random Thursday (No…really!)
I can’t remember the last time I posted something to the Random Thursday category. Fortunately, my archivist is on top of things and tells me that it’s been (a) almost six months since I wrote a Random Thursday article, and (b) more than two years since I actually posted a Random Thursday thing on an… Continue reading Random Thursday (No…really!)
Spunky Skunk vs Cowed Cougar
In yesterday’s post, I described my uneasy efforts to release a skunk from a trap. During that process, I kept reminding myself to not get complacent; just because I’d never been sprayed, I shouldn’t think it couldn’t happen. It didn’t, and even though I eventually had to agitate the animal a bit to get it… Continue reading Spunky Skunk vs Cowed Cougar
Forget catnaps; it’s skunknaps we really have to worry about
Update (10/11/19): The events described below reminded me that skunks are probably the most confident mammals on the planet. Here’s some visual evidence of that premise. ‘Cause what’cha gonna do with a cowboy When that old rooster crows at dawn When he’s lyin’ there instead of getttin’ out of bed And puttin’ on his boots… Continue reading Forget catnaps; it’s skunknaps we really have to worry about
The squirrels are driving us nuts.
It’s that time of the year when the pecan trees in our back yard begin to earn their keep by producing, well, pecans. We certainly look forward to a great harvest of that nutty goodness, with visions of pies and ice cream toppings and pecan-crusted tilapia dancing in our heads…which is where those visions will… Continue reading The squirrels are driving us nuts.
Four-footed Follies
Update (8/14/19): I guess I should complain about the weather more often. Shortly after posting this, we had a brief rain shower…almost two tenths of an inch. That won’t break the drought, but it certainly was enjoyable. We’ve gone more than a month without measurable rainfall and the creek will likely cease flowing within the… Continue reading Four-footed Follies
Escalating the Critter Arms Race
Actual game camera footage from our front yard The weather isn’t the only thing heating up around Casa de Fire Ant. As I’ve previously documented — feel free to scroll through past entries; I’m too lazy to find the links — our newly sodded front lawn has been an irresistible siren call to armadillos and… Continue reading Escalating the Critter Arms Race
The Mystery of the Murdered Fawn
It’s been an interesting week or so here at Casa de Fire Ant, thanks to the endless parade of wildlife traipsing past our abode, occasionally stopping to destroy our lawn on their way to whatever other endeavors attract them. Last week, we went out of town for a couple of days but I left my… Continue reading The Mystery of the Murdered Fawn
Channeling the Wily Armadillo
Note: The following contains critical armadillo trapping advice. Ignore it at your own peril. You’ve been warned. There’s also a walking stick gif. Alert Gazette readers will recall the account of my armadillo trapping woes, wherein the creatures were zooming in and out of the malfunctioning trap as if it were a port-a-potty next to… Continue reading Channeling the Wily Armadillo