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Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Saturday, July 19, 2008
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Wildlife sightings
Posted Sunday, April 20, 2008, at 4:14 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Other than deer, what unusual wild animals have you seen in your neighborhood?
I've seen a bobcat in the area where Lowe's is now located, heard coyotes in the same area several times, and actually had a coyote chasing a small rabbit run across Lucas Drive near Sun Circle intersection. I haven't spotted any of them in several years but there was once a unusual family of skunks often spotted off the walking trail at the park complex. At least one was completely white. All were mostly white. I spotted one in my yard late one night and also one of them at the duck pond on Fairfield Pike at Hickory Drive intersection. I'm never risked finding out for obvious reason, but does anyone know how far skunks range or any other type of wildlife for that matter? Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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I don't know about skunks but there are geese by the pond,hawks frequent the Fly and oppossums have wintered in a defunct pet taxi near our outbuildings.
I think predators have a very large range and tend to be more solitary.
Scavengers would be more at home around human habitations due to what houses and restaurants throw out.
I know you said other than deer but we saw a white deer in a herd of about 50 out in Rover area afew weeks ago. It looked funny.
Last summer while walking in drive way after dark, I saw a fluffy white cat and was calling it, but it was a skunk mom with little ones. Thank goodness it didn't come to me.
Last week we had a turkey hen show up in our back yard. That was a first for us since we moved here.
On Jan. 27 of this year I posted in a blog that my husband had seen a bald eagle in the Normandy Lake area. On March 5 there was an article in the Tennessean about pairs of eagles nesting in Cheatham Co. & a few other counties in Middle Tennessee.
Unionville/Rover does have a pretty white deer. It's neat spotting her in the evening/night since she kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. She has had fawns in the past.
We have several possums raccoons and skunks who frequent our front porch to eat our cat's food. We even have a mocking bird sneak in everyday to help himself too. Since we live along 64E and in the edge of city limits, it seems a little strange to have all of this wildlife around- not counting the herd of deer that often come out from the wooded lot nearby or the coyotes heard in the distance near the river.
I grew up in Petersburg and went to church in the country and never saw as many of these types of animals as I do now that I am living in Shelbyville.
I've seen lots of deer, opposum, raccoons, red-tailed hawks, turkeys, doves, geese, bobcats and last summer I saw a pheasant, although he's probably an escapee from the quail hunting club. We hear coyotes, but I've never seen one.
About three weeks ago a hawk of some type was spotted a couple of times in one of the large trees back of my home. I think it was watching the area where I regularly feed birds. Once I saw a lot of feathers in that area.
Skunks will range over about 5 acres in normal situations. All wildlife have different ranging patterns - were there any other you were specifically wondering about? I am the former Founder/Executive Director for Walden's Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Nashville. I have often wondered if the Times Gazette would be interested in a column where people could send in questions or where wildlife issues (baby birds, etc) could be discussed.
1HourataTime
I live near the river and came upon a wounded River Otter (she was beautiful) with severe facial injuries. I attempted to get her assistance after rescuing her from the curious neighborhood dogs. I contacted Nashville Wildlife Rescue and they were truly caring people. They do not have a Class 2 license and could not assist: they did give me Walden's Puddle's number. After a fifteen minute dissertation on legalities and a number of "Press this # or that #" and finally the comment to make an appointment to deliver the animal to them - I gave up. I needed to know how to care for her at that moment, not tomorrow or the next day.
I could find no one in Middle Tennessee that could legally tend her or tell me how to tend this poor animal.
She passed away quietly and I felt helpless. Although I know I did all I could and provided here a safe and quiet place. I will always wonder - if I could have gotten her help if she would not have survived to be returned to the wild.
Otters are beautiful and playful creatures and I feel the our river is somehow diminished by her loss.
Are they any Vets or people in our area that do have Class 2 licenses that can help instead of a fifteen minute lecture on what I Can't do?