Many of us are up here, at least in part, because we love to watch the wildlife. It’s great to get the chance to see them so close and to enjoy their antics. To help you make the most of this experience, here are a few helpful tips.

GENERAL CRITTER SAFETY: Be sure to turn any container upside down that can catch and hold water. This includes buckets, coffee cans, wheelbarrows and shallow pan. This will avoid accidental deaths.

If you’re purposely leaving water out for the critters to drink, place a large rock or a stick inside the pan. If a bird or small animal does fall in, they can climb onto the rock or stick to escape.

If you have a basement and have window wells, be sure to cover the tops with a strong metal grating so you don’t have the unpleasant experience of discovering a curious critter such as a raccoon or a skunk trapped inside there. If this happens before you get your grates on, try sliding a long board down into the well so that end sticks out on top.

Be sure to do it slowly and quietly – then LEAVE! Most critters will use the
board to climb out and will leave the area quickly.

If you enjoy supplying the birds with nesting materials, just be sure that any yarn, string, or even hair is cut into 1 inch lengths. It’s a little extra work, but
well worth it. You’d be surprised at the number of birds that lose toes, feet, and even their lives to bits of this type of material that get wrapped around them. (Unfortunately, all they can think of to rid themselves of the problems is to pull at it – and the more they pull, the tighter they usually make it.) And NEVER put anything like dental floss or plastic string out. You know how impossible it is to break something like fishing line those materials are the worst!

Each edition will feature a critter from our local Mountains.
This edition features – the Jewel of the Bird World - the Hummingbird

Click Here for an article on Mule Deer

Click Here for Jewel of the Bird World - the Hummingbird