What a lot has happened since last I wrote! Snow storms, ice storms, pets ran away, and came back (phew!), car ended up vertical in a ditch and was written off, hip issues, etc... Andthere has been some sad news. Little Victor vole is no longer with us. He died just a few days after coming here, but was found nice and ticked up in his bedding, so I hope the last few days of his life were restful. Voles don't live very long, but it was still sad. But sad news was balanced with good news: the first spring Eastern bluebird visited nearby WTS today! WTS is in the woods, and they prefer fields so they never come super close, but are in some of the fields just on the other side of the forest. Their wings are such a bright blue that there is really no mistaking them. For more information about them, take a look at: http://tinyurl.com/34c52d

But, despite this little harbinger of spring, it is still winter here. I will post pictures of last night's scarey ice storm last night. As snow has been covering the groud for so long, I ended up taking pity on poor Andre Bouton and making him peanut butter and apple treats, which he enjoyed immensely. Andre has been a visitor to WTS every day except for the last 4 days, so, of course, I'm worried about him now.

And a few more of the winter wonderland and my neighbours. Here is a picture of snowface!

Can you spot the lone turkey?

OK, I promise to get a decent camera before I take any more pictures of Carolina wrens! But they are just so lovely and aren't always here in the winter!

R.I.P. little Victor the Woodland, or Pine, Vole
For more information on voles take a look at:
http://tinyurl.com/2t4e8e
http://tinyurl.com/2jxnah, http://tinyurl.com/34c52d

Here is a picture of the newest Wild Things resident: a little Woodland Vole, or Pine Vole. She (I think it's a she) was found by the side of the road running in circles- probably somehow disturbed out of it's warm burrow. Most voles are monogamous, which means that this little miss may have a mate waiting for her, and so, when its warmer, she'll be returned to the location where she was found.

Here is a picture of the newest Wild Things resident: It's been very cold and snowy here, so it's good that the little vole has a place to be for now. Btw, the voles finder has called her Victor. To the right is a picture of the little female sapsucker whose been frequenting my feeders. She appears to be the only sapsucker in the woods near Wild Things at the moment.

Two little yearlings. I've seen these two a few times without a mum. I was told today that one female deer was killed during the hunting season in the woods behind my house...so it may have been their mum.

Tom & Theo and their gang. They've been hanging out with 2 other males who make a lot of noise and I've seen be a bit aggressive to T&T (even though one has a nose flap thing, they are all about the same size). But then I go out to scatter food, and the other 2 run off, whereas T&T, especially Tom come running over. So cute! I talked with one of the local hunters today who seems to know T&T and said he wouldn't hunt them. I hope not.