Spring Turnover

The peepers will sing for a few more weeks and, in my area, are being joined by toads and gray tree frogs, however, the adult wood frogs and mole salamanders have all left my ponds.  As if to make up for this decline in neighborhood critters, the spring batch of rabbits (snowshoe hares) has recently moved in.  I don’t know why they like our house in the spring.  We very seldom see rabbits during the winter around our yard, and when we see them they are extremely skittish, however this time of year they are common and very tolerant of our presence.  I can understand the attraction that the forest edge would have for a rabbit, as shrubbery and grass are prevalent, but our place seems to have more attraction than the whole length of our driveway.  I also have a little competition with them as we both like dandelions.  To me it’s amazing (and annoying) to pick a big bunch of dandelions, clean them carefully for grass and twigs, wash them several times, check them again for grass and twigs and roots, cook them in clear Cobscook Bay water and just when I’m ready to eat them find a bunch of grass and twigs and roots that I have missed.  Maybe the Gods of the Wild Critters are telling me to leave the dandelions for the rabbits.  I don’t know why.  Dandelions, like me, are from away.  Rabbits would probably nibble as many of Linda’s tulips even if I did leave more dandelions.

Unlike frogs, rabbits, except under unusual circumstances, are quiet like salamanders.  When a guy rabbit with romantic intentions is chasing a gal rabbit she may jump up and spin around and make a sound, sort of like a ‘chirp’.  (In our woods this is happening about now.) The other sound a rabbit makes is when it is under extreme stress, like if it is caught by a fox or an owl, and then it makes a loud, chilling scream, like a child being hurt. Wildlife biologists have noted this in many prey animals under similar circumstances and have wondered why this happens, that is, what possible benefit could this be for the rabbit.  The theory that is generally accepted is that a loud, unexpected scream may have two benefits: one; the attacker may be startled enough for a split second to loosen his grip on his prey, and secondly, the cry may attract a second predator that would surely attack predator number one, and the prey may escape in the resulting confusion.  It is well known that the call of a distressed rabbit will attract predators, like foxes, coyotes and bobcats, and many predator calls are made on this principle.  I don’t know at what age rabbits develop this talent, but over the years while working in the woods I have caught young rabbits and they have struggled a bit but never screamed and quickly calmed down.  I would like to think that I could instill more fear than a mangy fifteen pound fox or a grubby skunk-smelling owl, but I guess not.

Another sign of spring turnover is  ‘Vivi’.  Vivi is a red squirrel and the hair on the tip of her tail is sort of sculptured into the letter ’V’.  Prominent nipples on Vivi indicate she is a nursing mother and she will soon wean her youngsters and probably bring them down to the black oil sunflower feeding grounds under the birdfeeder.  There they will learn how to find the dropped seeds and shell them with the least effort and play and tussle with each other and run up the tree and sit side by side and watch me when I come out.  Little by little their play will turn into real fights and soon they will be in vigorous competition with each other and every other red squirrel in the area.

Another thing to notice and enjoy is the return of the birds. The male hummingbirds arrived on Mother’s day and are actively using the feeders because only a few flowers are blooming. They, like red squirrels, don’t like to share, and energetically defend their perceived territories.  The peak of the bird migration is usually later in May, but don’t just look up in the trees for wildlife, as the snapping turtles are emerging and the females are coming out searching for a good spot to lay their eggs.  They may travel up to two miles from their home pond or lake to find a choice gravelly spot. It is a very busy time for wildlife spotters. Drive carefully and watch the road for any critters, especially the young of the year, and guide them carefully off the road. Be careful in handling anything that can bite, and don’t carry turtles by their tails.  If you do touch a turtle remember that reptiles are worse than the pistachios that were pulled off the shelves a few weeks ago for harboring salmonella.  If you see anything interesting that attracts your attention pull safely off the road out of harm’s way. You will see a lot more there than from a cot in the ER.