Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

My very first sting was in the neck by a Yellow Jacket. It was so painful that when I eventually got stung by a regular bee, I was surprised how little bee stings hurt in comparison.

As for today's adventure, I headed over to Wind Point in Racine Wi. Its a public area beneath a fantastic lighthouse right on Lake Michigan. They've got a tiny museum, a garden, and a beach. Not to mention a nice grassy area for picnicing. In the back of my head, I was thinking "this would be the perfect place for a small pond!"

 

[addy1]

OK, now you're just playing Devil's Advocate! My first reaction (pun intended) was to bite my tongue, but then I started thinking, and I simply HAVE to ask: Did you have to stick Kleenex in one side to balance them?????
John

geez....................NO! don't wear anything that would hold the kleenex......................lol Sure did hurt and hurt and hurt though.

 

[j.w]

Beautiful place JB and yes it would make a lovely spot for a pond

 

[pecan]

Wonderful pictures! The closest to the Great Lakes I have ever been is Minneapolis. But when I see pictures it blows me away at how much they look like the ocean!

Whenever I think of the Great Lakes I think about this somber but wonderful song.

 

[j.w]

Love that song. G.L is one of my hubby's favorite artists.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

The closest to the Great Lakes I have ever been is Minneapolis. But when I see pictures it blows me away at how much they look like the ocean!

& I've never seen an ocean, but when I see pictures it surprises me how much they look like the great lakes. Or at least Lake Michigan; never seen the others.

One of my favorite places to camp is in a forest right on Lake Michigan. Here's some photos I took there in 2012.

 

[j.w]

Used to live in Michigan and I agree it does look like the big ocean..........beautiful!
It just doesn't taste like it

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Wildflowers are starting to come alive in the woods. Here's a few:

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Huge surprise in my yard tonight! This was not near my pond, but in my back yard. I was walking in my yard and saw this Painted Turtle laying eggs right in the grass! First time I've seen a turtle in my yard, and such a bonus to see it laying eggs. I took a few photos and left it alone until it was done. Then marked the spot with some logs.

I'm sure from the turtle's point of view it was a disaster since it was spotted and now another animal (me) knows where the eggs are, but they are safe from me. I am worried about raccoons though.

I ended up putting chicken wire around it (with a gap at the bottom if they eventually hatch). I contacted the Department of Natural Resources to see what they have to say.

 

[Troutredds]

Huge surprise in my yard tonight! This was not near my pond, but in my back yard. I was walking in my yard and saw this Painted Turtle laying eggs right in the grass! First time I've seen a turtle in my yard, and such a bonus to see it laying eggs. I took a few photos and left it alone until it was done. Then marked the spot with some logs.

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I'm sure from the turtle's point of view it was a disaster since it was spotted and now another animal (me) knows where the eggs are, but they are safe from me. I am worried about raccoons though.

I ended up putting chicken wire around it (with a gap at the bottom if they eventually hatch). I contacted the Department of Natural Resources to see what they have to say.

Very cool! Can you actually see the eggs in that hole she dug? At first glance I thought she dug a little turtle latrine and was relieving herself.

 

[addy1]

That is so darn neat! How long before they are hatching?

 

[HARO]

In the provincial parks around here they put 3' or 4' square boxes, about 6" high and covered in hardware cloth, over the nest sites to keep raccoons, foxes, skunks and other animals from digging the eggs up. At Point Pelee we often see four or five of these close together in favourable turtle nesting areas. They are checked regularly, and when the eggs hatch the youg are moved to water so they don't have to cross roads or open areas. The eggs hatch in 75 to 80 days, depending on the weather.
John

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Very cool! Can you actually see the eggs in that hole she dug? At first glance I thought she dug a little turtle latrine and was relieving herself.

The way she was laying, I couldn't see the eggs. Basically, photo #3 was the best view I had.

That is so darn neat! How long before they are hatching?

2-3 months is what the DNR site said. So if they survive that long, maybe by September they'll hatch.


I have to wonder how that works. 3 months is a long time and what if grass regrows and locks the eggs into the ground? hmm...
and I never realized turtles would lay eggs so far from water. There is a pond in the woods about only a 5 minute walk, (which is loaded with Painted Turtles), but for a baby turtle that has to be like a 5 hour walk!

 

[j.w]

Way cool JB. Hope you are able to help save them and of course would love to see pix if you see they are hatching. Maybe they will be walking to your pond as it is much closer.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

would love to see pix if you see they are hatching.

Unlikely, but that would be way too cool! Would love to see how tiny a brand new turtle is! DNR sent me a link to info about protecting eggs. chicken wire is the way to go but I have to figure out a way to close the top and protect the bottom where predators can dig under. They also say the first week is when the nest is most vulnerable and it should be safe after that, but I'll probably keep it protected until August 1st, which is when they say all wire cages should be removed.