Cool Critters!

[Misty Blue]

On Sunday the 7th My wife and I spied a wolf on the Lake. He ( I think it was a he but I really didn't check) seemed to be running from something in the Kona wildlife area and was sprinting across Braun Bay. He came to the edge of the ice (the bay is not frozen yet) and of course fell in.

The wife went nutz as I donned my emersion suit and made ready for the rescue. He managed to get out of the drink by himself though and hi-tailed it back into the woods.

A neighbor told me that he saw a genuine cougar last year on Moultonborough neck. He even got a foot print from it.

Has any one else seen any "cool critters" around the Lake?

Misty

[ITD]

Misty,

Please stay away from the wolf, he could eat you.




........sorry couldn't resist......

[pmj]

Are you sure it was a wolf?


As commendable and caring as your rescue might have been, I think I would call fish and game for such a rescue rather than go after a wild animal...just a rabid , I mean, random thought


We heard coyotes about 1/4 mile from our Alton house last night.

pmj

[Senter Cove Guy]

A few weeks ago, my daughter & son-in-law saw what they think were coyotes near their home not far from Mirror Lake. She has a brief video. I've seen coyotes before and the animal on the video is much, much larger than the coyotes I've seen.

[ApS]

Though I've never seen a coyote in the Lakes Region, the chance of seeing a wild wolf are 100-times less good.

Wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare, although a jogger was attacked by a wolf just three days ago in Canada (Photo of bitemarks in news-story): http://sask.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/...04&region=Sask

Coyotes have "snipier" (narrow/long - fox-like) muzzles, and shaggy (less-neat), light-colored fur.

A coyote attacked a Melvin Villager's canine last year. The pet was patched up at the vet's, and recovered OK.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Originally Posted by Senter Cove Guy

Are There Wolves In NH?

Unlike the wolf or domestic dog, coyotes run with their tail pointing down. (Good to know.)

Wolves from NH Fish & Wildlife:

Will Wolves Return to New Hampshire?

The last member of the canid family with ties to New Hampshire is the gray wolf, which now has federally protected status. Two to three times the size of the eastern coyote, the gray wolf weighs up to 150 pounds, though it's about the same length as the coyote. The wolf ranges in color from sandy to grizzled, and has a black phase.

When New England was first settled in the colonial days, wolves were common here. Despised for their habit of killing sheep, they were eradicated over the years. The last N.H. wolf bounty was paid for two killed in 1895.

New England has been hearing more about wolves these days. In 1993, a wolf was killed in northern Maine, and other sightings have since occurred there. A population of wolves lives in Quebec, just 200 miles north of New Hampshire. In fact, a female wolf was killed in Canada two years ago within 20 miles of the New Hampshire border. In the fall of 2003, a wolf was killed in New York State that had the genetic profile of a Great Lakes gray wolf; officials are still attempting to confirm whether the animal was wild or captive-reared.

New Hampshire, with land that is 90 percent wooded and thriving populations of moose, deer and beaver -- prime wolf foods -- has many of the right habitat ingredients to support a wolf population. Within the next few decades, we may see wolves return to New Hampshire on their own, and our canid family will be complete once again. --Eric Orff, Wildife Biologist
NH Fish & Wildlife

Another article - from NHPR:

Laura Knoy, 2003-01-23
It’s been more than a hundred years since the last confirmed sighting in New Hampshire, but some biologists think wolves may be making a comeback here. We’ll find out why wolves were eradicated in the first place, and the controversy over their possible return. Laura talks with Peggy Struhsacker, Northeast Wolf Project Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation, and Eric Orff with New Hampshire Fish and Game .
NHPR

[Grant]

There have been a number of coyote sightings in the region, so this is most likely what you saw. There was an incident a few years ago in Melvin where a group of coyotes caused problems with a dog that was tied up in a yard -- back near the "mountain road." I believe this was covered in the Grunter.

Eastern coyotes are considerably larger than the traditional western coyotes because they've bred with wolves along the way. A few years ago, we nearly hit one on the Mass Tpk on the way to the Lake -- in the middle of the day. No denying what it was, either. We've seen a number of them down here in PA, and I know that there is a considerable population in western/central Mass.

Oddly enough, a friend and I down here were discussing this same topic just yesterday.

There have been sporadic reports of mountain lion sightings in the area for quite some time -- mostly in the northern and eastern areas near the Ossipees. Could they be bobcats?

I was lucky enough to see a lynx while backpaking deep in the white mountains in the mid-80s -- on a trail off of Mt. Guyot. There was a group spruce partridge feeding/loitering in the middle of the trail, so I stopped to watch for a minute. As I turned a corner, I spooked the lynx, who was obviously stalking a meal. Very distinctive ear tufts, larger and stockier than a bobcat.

[Misty Blue]

When we lived on the Mass/VT border we had packs and packs of coyotes all over the place. The tore the deer herd to bits and ate two of my cats!

Nope. We know what a coyote looks like and had this pup in the Binoculars for some time. It was a wolf.

Way cool, huh?
Misty.

[tricia1218]

I was walking near pickerel cove on the railroad tracks with my fathers dog, when the dog ran over to a hole in the ground, it was about the size of a basketball, surrounded by alot of little bones. Seeing that cujo (dog) is little himself, we did not hang around.

[Lin]

First off it's not good to go rescue pets or wildlife falling through ice if you aren't prepared. You did say you had an immersion suit. However someone did make the joke about rabies and then there is the natural cycle of nature. We had a deer chased onto the ice by pet dogs and then was being eaten by coyotes and crows in broad daylight. It was on the route to a school and mostly parents complained so finally they had to send rescue people out to bring the carcass to shore. I used it in my environmental teachings as a life cycle. To answer your question about coyotes or wolves in the area. For years in Moultonbourough we have heard and seen sign of coyotes. I've often read that the eastern canada wolve is moving down through the northwoods too but I'd rather doubt they are at the lake at this point. In MA where we live we have several coyote packs that run through the area. I've got kids and we've never had any qualms about them playing outside knowing the coyotes are living across the tracks from us. As we move out into the farmlands and woodlands and into more wildlife habitats there are sure to be interactions with humans and animals as they learn to adapt to us. Here is a link on coyotes vs wolves.

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/graywolf/wolfcoyotequiz.cfm

[Rattlesnake Gal]

That was great Lin! If I ever come across a wolf, I will know it for sure. I scored 100%. Do I get an A for this class, teacher?

[pmj]

Fascinating quiz, Lin, thanks for posting that link.

I certainly didn't mean to joke about rabies. I was just pointing out that any wild animal could have the potential of being a rabies carrier, especially those who wander close to human habitat, from what I have read.

pmj

[Lin]

Hi all, yea that's a fun quiz and it's a good one. No I wasn't joking about the rabies either. I know it's around. they had a fox jump on someone at a Christmas party in southern NH this past year. I know that in my dad's town years ago some lady thought a german shepard had been hit by a car and she stopped and took her jacket off to cover the "dog" turned out to be a coyote. Luckily she was fine. It's just the point that a wild animal is just that a wild animal and usually hasn't had much interaction with humans. One time at the park I worked at a deer went out on the ice and kids rescued it and we got called to take it to Tuft's wildlife. It died from shock but those kids were lucky they didn't fall through the ice too.

[Pepper]

About eleven years ago, my sister and I were traveling south on 89 near the Audubon area. She spotted something running out of the woods, and we pulled onto the breakdown lane to go slower and get a better look. Sure enough, it was a wolf! It trotted along at the edge of the trees for a considerable distance, allowing us a clear look, as we were essentially right alongside it. After about a half mile or so, it headed back into the cover of trees and brush. We sat for quite a while waiting for it to come back into the open, but it never did. We wished we had a camera, but alas we did not. It's a memory that will stay with both of us forever - a once in a lifetime kind of thing! Ain't nature great?!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by pmj

I certainly didn't mean to joke about rabies. I was just pointing out that any wild animal could have the potential of being a rabies carrier
pmj

A teenaged girl survived a rabid bat bite last week without the injections. It took a few weeks before symptoms of rabidity showed up.

It wasn't easy for her, but when the symptoms show up, it's usually fatal.


http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/...-rabies02.html

[SAMIAM]

I can't lay claim to any wolves ,but we do have a pair of otters living in a rocky peninsula under our dock.In the winter they make a slide on a steep part of our lawn.They run up and slide down continuously,like a couple of kids
Anyone else have any critters to tell us about?

[Grant]

Cool quiz, Lin. I got 8 out of 8. They are not really hard to distinguish. But I still doubt there are wolves in the eastern US.

Then again, there are those who don't believe there are rock bass in the Lake, so I will temper that doubt with an asterisk!

[KonaChick]

otters or mink. We have a couple of mink living in our yard and they look just like otters.

[mcdude]

We have a beaver dam down by the end of our little lake. I am trying to grow trees and whatever along the shore in front of my place for erosion control. I am espcially fond of a little clump of birches down by the dock... one of which was attacked by a beaver recently...gnawed the tree right through until it fell. Then it was left there. It wasn't even dragged back to the dam! On occasion we have heard wolves or coyotes howling back and forth to each other at night up in the Belknaps. It is very eerie! I've also seen a fox in the area of Alton Mountain.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

McDude and I saw a double-breasted cormorant over on Hall’s ahem, I mean Hill’s Pond.
Can you believe that neither one of us had our camera?

On Rattlesnake Island there are many deer. Last spring there was definite evidence of coyotes on the island. Dog-type excrement with deer hair in it, near by the remains of a deer leg. I would post a picture, but I do not want to gross anyone out.

We have turkeys and a couple pileated woodpeckers too. I only have video of them though.




There is heron that likes to stop by too. I believe this is unusual for one to be out on such open water.


One Sunday morning we saw a female moose swimming across The Broads, heading for Wolfeboro Neck. That was pretty cool.
Looked like a log from far away. My little Elf camera doesn’t have a great zoom and we didn’t want to scare her by getting too close.




Last spring I think we saw two immature bald eagles. The zoom wasn’t very good on that camera, so there are no pictures. Maybe this year I will have some luck with my new one.

[Lin]

neat wildlife photos Rattlesnake Gal

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

"...New Hampshire, with land that is 90 percent wooded and thriving populations of moose, deer and beaver -- prime wolf foods -- has many of the right habitat ingredients to support a wolf population."

90% wooded? Just two years ago, New Hampshire was advertising that "New Hampshire is 94% trees...and 6% under water".

Anyway, Google confuses the wolf/coyote issue: a New York study found that the Eastern coyote (30,000 in NY state) is suspected of having spread its range eastward by adding genes via Canadian Gray wolves. (And that it was the Red Wolf that New England settlers killed off -- just recently being re-introduced to North Carolina wilds).

Coyotes will also hybridize with dogs, producing coy-dogs (or doyotes, depending upon which was the male).

Dogs are domesticated wolves -- simple as that. Archaeological evidence of wolf-to-dog domestication dates from 100,000 years ago.

Breeding the two (wolf-to-dog) produces, usually, a very unfaithful attacker. Although I also read this account:

"...he's 75% wolf, 25% malamute, and 100% dopey furball..."

One pet-shelter volunteer was allowed to "rescue" wolf-dogs, and started with 11 wolf-dogs on her ¾-acre lot.

"...Today Ms. Kobobel runs the Wolf Rescue Center in Lake George, Colo., a sanctuary for wolves and wolf dogs. She has 11 of the animals on an enclosed eight acres of land.

But the work hasn’t converted her to the ownership of wolf dogs. It’s accomplished the opposite.

The first week Ms. Kobobel opened the doors of her rescue center running an ad in the newspaper to advertise she wound up with 17 animals.

For almost a year afterwards, she received 15 to 20 phone calls a day from people wanting to get rid of their hybrids. Today, she still receives about 300 phone calls a year."

It appears that a sighting of a wolf can be correct, though hybrids of the three possibilities (domesticated dog, wolf, coyote) are not common in the wild due to low survival rates (winter births) and once-per-year estrus cycles for wolves and coyotes. (Twice per year for dogs).

A DNA determination can give the percentage of "wolf-content".

[gravy boat]

My first coyote sighting was about 10 years ago between exits 3 and 4 on Rt. 93 North, during rush hour no less! It was summer and the coyote was standing behind the breakdown lane on the grass, standing at attention and watching the traffic (I assume for a clear spot to dash across into the median).

I then saw one crossing Rt. 106 North a few years ago, less than 1/2 mile north of the dog track. About 3 years ago I saw a small bear coming out of the woods on the dog track property, checking if the coast was clear to cross to the other side. After I slowed and passed very slowly, he crossed and ran up the hill.

Within a few months of that sighting, again on Rt. 106 N but up near Lincare in Belmont, I saw a moose just standing in the field north of the Lincare location. Many cars were pulled off to the side to check him out. (My first moose spotting!)

Then last year, heading East on 11A toward home, I saw a coyote cross east of the municipal building and up into the woods and hiking trail area.


A few months ago we had the biggest buck we've ever seen walk right down our property line toward Rt. 11A....my husband is a hunter and grew up in New York with the deer are plentiful and large. He's never seen a bigger or more healthy buck.

Last week I was on my deck (not tanning, but getting ready to shovel) at about 8:30 or so and heard something crossing under the deck. Sure enough, there was the big guy taking a short cut!

It always makes my day to see nature at it's best. Thanks for letting me share!

Gravy

[IslandSib]

Only wish I had pictures. Last year on walk I beleive we saw a coyote on Rattlesnake..always wondered until I traveled to Point Reyes in CA and one walked right in front of the car as we were leaving! Now I am about 80% sure which was how I rated on the test.
One early morning I did see a moose taking a dip in the broads off Rattlesnake
I have no photos but it was amazing.
Last, I have walked in the woods and if you are really quiet ...you can see the deer....

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by IslandSib

Last, I have walked in the woods and if you are really quiet ...you can see the deer....

... and he did see those deer, many times.

[SIKSUKR]

I had an unusual sighting a couple of years ago at my house in Bedford NH.I went into my backyard,which is surounded by acres of woodland,and saw an animal I had never seen before.It looked like a wolf of fox but nothing like I had seen in the past.It was staring at my cat,who was doing the same to it.My cat ran up the tree for cover and after watching this animal for a while I approached it to shoe it away.I told the cat she was a smart girl for running up the tree to safety.Off to the computor to look online for an animal that fit the desription.It turns out that this was a gray fox which is not a very comman thing to see.But my big surprize was that this is one of the only canides that is a great tree climber!Who would have known.I will have to talk to the cat about this situation. SS

[Grant]

The Sandwich Range is a really interesting and diverse area. When our kids got a little bigger and we decided to really get back into mountain day trips, we started small & local with the Sandwich Range -- which also lacks the crowded trails of some of the more popular White Mountain peaks.

Anyway, the area around Doublehead Mountain is LOADED with moose and bear.

Some interesting shots from a few years ago...

Bear tracks in the sand:

http://www.pbase.com/gfevans/image/38566385

One of many moose prints on the trails, with my foot for perspective:

http://www.pbase.com/gfevans/image/38566396

Lots of moose dookie!

http://www.pbase.com/gfevans/image/38566398

And look at the height of this moose rub (my wife, pictured, is about 5' 4")...

http://www.pbase.com/gfevans/image/38566403

We also saw some large turkeys up there.

[upthesaukee]

Hey Grant, where were those turkeys from???????

[Grant]

I couldn't make out the license plate.

[pmj]

ok, now I have to dig out a picture of elk poop that I shot on the Olympic Penninsula. We can compare to NH poop

[Rattlesnake Gal]

And here I was worried about posting a picture of a run of the mill deer leg!
Dookie...Grant you are too funny.

[Grant]

Normally, one pile of moose dookie alone would not be considered anything extraordinary -- just a sign of their presence. But the number of fresh & semi-fresh piles (sorry, no other way to describe it) we saw that day was incredible. Literally dozens and dozens. Hence the photo.

Okay, to be perfectly honest, we were actually lost that day. Not "lost" as in "we can't find our way back," but lost in that we took a wrong turn off of the planned trail and ended up in a very remote and seldom-hiked section of the Sandwich Range. Although we never made the intended summit that day, we did have a rather interesting family adventure complete with all sorts of tracks, scat, critters, and disappearing trails to nowhere. Very cool. Yet, despite all the dookie, footprints, rubs and criss-crossing moose trails, we never actually saw a moose. We were definitely expecting one around every bend in the trail, but they obviously smelled us suburbanites and high-tailed it out of there.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lin

"...I've often read that the eastern canada wolve is moving down through the northwoods too but I'd rather doubt they are at the lake at this point..."

Today's Union-Leader has an article citing DNA proof that the Gray Wolf has been living within ten miles of the NH border -- in Canada.

The newspaper is asking for residents' sightings, but only within the North Woods of NH.

Writer John Harrigan, who owns a sheep farm in NH says he's heard howls that were definitely deeper than the howl of a coyote. A dog-sledder says his dogs get very quiet when they hear that cry -- and are not disturbed by the howl of a coyote.

http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=50532

[ApS]

Photographic proof that 100,000+ years of human domestication has taken all the "wolf" out of the domestic dog. (In this case, a Rhodesian Ridgeback).

The other critter was a "foundling" found on the front step of a New England front door. Now well cared for in Florida, it has taken to sleeping on his blanket, and they frequently share it.

[Pepper]

Hey, look! It's a Rhodesian Ridgeback and a Deer Dotback!

Sorry APS - I got away from myself this morning and couldn't resist.

What a sweet photo, though! Thanks for sharing it!

[jkjoshuatree]

My family has a place on Bear Island and we've had several different "critters" over the years. Some stay year round and some just pass through during the winter.

1.Deer

2.Otter (it lives under our dock and we saw it in November)

3.Black Bear (a mother and two cubs were scared up a tree last fall by a dog-hard to believe I know-but I saw the pics. I'll post them if I can get my hands on a copy).

4.Coyote (I saw one sitting on a rock a few years ago when I was pulling in in the boat, friends have video of a pack of them, and my stepmom heard them howling when she was in the outdoor shower-said it was the creepiest thing she ever heard. She thinks they were attacking a deer at the time).

5.Moose (another visitor just passing through during the winter months).

6.Bald Eagle (there's a great shot of an eagle eating carrion on the ice that's hanging at the Y Landing store-it was shot in front of my family's place).

7.Painter Turtle (I saw a duck get attacked by something under water and my brother-in-law was with me so I have a witness. It pulled the duck under and then it got away for a second. Then it was pulled back under and we never saw it again. It was freaky to say the least. Does anyone have any idea what it could have been? I'm thinking snapping turtle but I've only ever seen painters in our part of the lake).

8.Fox (there was a family in a meadow on Meredith Neck Road about fifteen years ago and we saw them almost every weekend but the meadow is now overgrown so we don't know if they're still there).

9.Porcupine (my brother swears he saw one a while ago up behind our cottage but he's the first, last, and only witness I've heard of that's seen one).

10.Beaver (just goto to the Beaver Islands and you'll see the dam. Good luck seeing one though-beavers are nocturnal).

[Rattlesnake Gal]

jkjoshuatree, if you get any photos, please share them with us!
You have very cool critters!

[Frdxplorer]

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

9.Porcupine (my brother swears he saw one a while ago up behind our cottage but he's the first, last, and only witness I've heard of that's seen one).

Not sure if you were only referring to seeing porcupines on bear island but we definately saw one on Tuftonboro neck under a tree near the camp.

[Lin]

cute photo acres per second.

[Lin]

acres per second, thanks for the link to the wolf article. That was beautifully and informative writeup. Interesting all the various resources they used. Yea I wouldn't doubt some day you will see the wolf in NH/VT/ME. I'm holding off right now on purchasing a new digital camera. I want one of the new cameras that can use interchangable lenses exactly for the longshots of wildlife photography.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

7.Painter Turtle (I saw a duck get attacked by something under water and my brother-in-law was with me so I have a witness. It pulled the duck under and then it got away for a second. Then it was pulled back under and we never saw it again. It was freaky to say the least. Does anyone have any idea what it could have been? I'm thinking snapping turtle but I've only ever seen painters in our part of the lake).

It's not unusual for a snapping turtle to take ducklings, and snapping turtles will move from pond to pond. A family member encountered one in the middle of a quiet rural Winnipesaukee road, and tried to move it -- one end at a time -- in the direction it was heading. It was as big as a "wash basin".

It's rumored that Grant will "harvest" ducks this way for his table.

[jkjoshuatree]

Originally Posted by Frdxplorer

Not sure if you were only referring to seeing porcupines on bear island but we definately saw one on Tuftonboro neck under a tree near the camp.

Thanks. I'm sure my brother will feel better. I never knew porcupine's even lived in Central NH so maybe he did see one on the island.

[upthesaukee]

Here's a pic of a porcupine just off our property in a tree on the edge of our road. Taken last year.

PS: JoshuaTree, is that as in Joshua Tree CA, on the high desert near 29 Palms??? If so , been there, great monument area to drive thru.

[Pepper]

Hey Upthesaukee - do you know about twentynine palms for the same reason that I know about twentynine palms? If so, Semper Fi, Brother!

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

[upthesaukee]

I was Air Force, son a a WWII Jarhead that was in the South Pacific. Daughter was married to a marine who go stationed at 29 Palms. Went out to visit a couple of times. Kind of a different area, drab but pretty, we really enjoyed it, except in the summer. Then it was hotter than, well you know who enjoyed that heat...

[Jersey Bob]

29 Palms, aka 29 Stumps.
Oohrah!
I was on the east coast though. That and 2 Med cruises.

[FLAG!]

we have seen mink several times running along the shoreline of our property in Wolfeboro. I have not seen the fisher in the area but lord knows we hear it frequently at night in the summer. I also got a shot of a mink (I believe it was a mink) that taunted one of my fishing partners at the 2004 Ice Derby. It came out from the woods and went down the hole that he had a tip up in. He ran over to chase it away. He waslooking down the hole and the thing was gone, but then Pete quickly leaped back as the mink came scrambling back up the hole and ran for the woods. Pete gave chase for a moment. I have no idea why he thinks he can catch wild animals with his hands. He chases squirrels too. Something is wrong with him, anyway, that's a story for another time. When Pete got back to where we were hangin out on the ice he was a littel winded so he grabbed a beer. No sooner did the mink run out on the ice in his direction only to seemingly flip Pete off and run back into the woods. I snapped this picture at that point...

[Grant]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

It's not unusual for a snapping turtle to take ducklings, and snapping turtles will move from pond to pond. A family member encountered one in the middle of a quiet rural Winnipesaukee road, and tried to move it -- one end at a time -- in the direction it was heading. It was as big as a "wash basin".

It's rumored that Grant will "harvest" ducks this way for his table.

Seems each summer we have a group of mallards (mom and ducklings) that cruise by the dock. Same with Mergansers. We count them each time they go by because my grandfather always told us the turtles and big bass would "pluck" them for a meal. Sure enough, there are usually one or two missing after a couple of days.

We have a BIG snapper that lives around our dock -- and we see him/her each year a few times. Slow as can be, so they must be pretty stealthy to snag a duckling (or "merganserling"). We also have a bunch of minks. Saw a dead porcupine on 109 heading into Melvin last year, but no live ones. If you go to Nova Scotia, the darn things are the predominant form of road kill -- they're everywhere. We've had a number of beavers, too, and the kids enjoy finding "beaver sticks" with gnaw marks in the rocks and stuck in the crib of the dock. I think a mink or beaver set up shop in our boathouse over last winter, because when I came up in the spring, the deck inside was loaded with some really hard (read: old) scat that was full of fish scales and bones -- and was very hard to remove. It stunk, too. Uh-oh...there I go with yet another dookie post...

[FLAG!]

Here is a picture of a coyote taken by an infra red automatic camera:

[FLAG!]

This is a pretty good photo of a Fisher. Often mistakenly called a "Fisher Cat".

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

10.Beaver (just goto to the Beaver Islands and you'll see the dam. Good luck seeing one though-beavers are nocturnal).

At the shoreline, I had two small white pines growing too close to one another. While debating overnight which one to remove, a beaver made the choice for me!

Now all the desired trees are ringed with steel "rabbit" fencing about three feet tall. (Lake Winnipesaukee's "bank" beavers have a good reach). Even trees so large you can't touch your fingers around, will get gnawed in a large area.They don't have to cut them down for their meal.

I've seen them swimming by early in the morning, evening and, once in a kayak, snuck up on one gnawing away in the middle of the day. Any place water runs off a wetland into the lake, there will be a beaver trying to "stop" it with his lodge.

[Grant]

Originally Posted by FLAG!

This is a pretty good photo of a Fisher. Often mistakenly called a "Fisher Cat".

Where were the Fisher and Coyote shots taken? Great shots.

[PROPELLER]

Are Fishers & Fisher Cats the same animal? I think I have heard them cry, I was told they sound like a high pitched crying baby. I have also heard they are very vicious & surprised someone got close enough for this photo. I also read they are very private & therefore do not yield many sightings. Thats a great photo.

[FLAG!]

back in the 70's we used to feed our dinner scraps to the family of racoons in the woods behind our camp in wolfeboro. Now that is no longer advised. You can attract a Fisher in much the same fashion, but instead of the leftover fatty pieces of steak or hamburger you need live bait. Preferrably a medium sized cat, large ones are difficult as they can often inflict sever wounds while trying to escape your grasp.

Just kidding. I would never bait a Fisher with a live cat. First take a baseball bat and...

Oh, no I can't go on in that direction. I actually like cats.

This picture was taken by an automatic wildlife camera. They are motion detected. there is a great series of photos including the coyote, deer, moose, and all sorts of other native wildlife in New england located at this website: http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/Sightings.php a gentleman by the name of John Foster apparently has several of these cameras set up in various locations in Massachusetts. Many great pictures are on the site. Check it out!

[jkjoshuatree]

Someone please help me! I'm trying to get my pics of the mother bear and her cubs up but I don't know how to do it. Anyone feel like helping a computer idiot?

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

Someone please help me! I'm trying to get my pics of the mother bear and her cubs up but I don't know how to do it. Anyone feel like helping a computer idiot?

Let me give it a try. First the photo(s) have to be posted on a website that allows hot linking such as Pbase or Winni's own Photopost. I believe Upthesaukee's reply in the other thread is correct in that regard. To get it to appear in a post in a thread you need to click on the insert image button (looks like a couple of mountains in a yellow box just under the size and color boxes) and then supply the url to the pic. It'll end up looking like the following (but with IMG tags instead of the fake JMG tags I used below to fool the software so you could see it);

[JMG]http://www.place.com/pic01.jpg[/JMG]

Alternately you could just type the url and tags in as shown above (but using IMG not JMG) and skip the button click.

One the pic has been approved by the moderator it'll show up.

OK pic posting pros, how'd I do ?


added : After rereading Upthesaukee's reply in the other thread ( http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...3381#post13381 ) it appears there's more than 1 way to skin this (fisher) cat. He's not uploading a file to Photopost but rather attaching a file to a post. I've previously attached files for upload to Winni.com and they just showed up as a linked filename. I guess if it's a .jpg type file it'll show up as a pic in the post (after approval) ? Learn something new every day ....

[upthesaukee]

I just found it easier to attach the file like I was going to post to Photopost, but I have to make sure I am under 100Kb in size. The valid extentions are right there above the manage button, as I'm sure you have already seen.

they are: bmp doc gif jpe jpeg jpg pdf png pps ppt psd txt xls zip

Works well 99.9% of the time.... the other .1%????? forget it .... it probably wasn't going to be that interesting or important anyway... and I figure if I'm having that much trouble, maybe someone is trying to tell me something!

When I (you) post the way I do, and if I (you) then preview the posting, the image will not show up in the preview panel. As soon as I (you) submit and it shows up as part of the thread, the attachment (photo, text, etc) will show up in the thread.

[Sunbeam lodge]

I have an Apple.
I go to the photo post section and click on any photo.
Then click on upload photos.
Click browser
Select picture from I-PHoto
hit upload
hit process file
Bingo!

You can also use some of the other items to make it look like a postcard
and add some comments

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

9.Porcupine (my brother swears he saw one a while ago up behind our cottage but he's the first, last, and only witness I've heard of that's seen one).

The Lakes Region used to have lots of them.

I'd heard that a virus had decimated them.

They're still here, though. Just ask any veterinarian.

[Pepper]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

They're still here, though. Just ask any veterinarian.

Or any automotive technician! When hubby and I were in that business, it was pretty much an annual event - customer comes in and says "There are small drops of antifreeze in my driveway" Then we ask "Are they in any particular place in relation to the front of the car?" And the customer replies "No, there scattered all over the place!" Then a quick inspection reveals a lower radiator hose thoroughly littered with porcupine quills, which act as straws - wicking antifreeze down the quills one drop at a time!

[glennsteely]

in 2000, we were up in the 2nd week of August with our dog, when he got a mug full of quills, chasing one under the little cottage we were staying at in Paugus Bay (The Happy Landing) I learned from it too, cause I tried to pull them out with a set of needle nose pliers, much to my beloved pets displeasure.....The quills are barbed and they required a trip to the animal hospital to remove........poor doggy.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Pepper

Or any automotive technician! When hubby and I were in that business, it was pretty much an annual event - customer comes in and says "There are small drops of antifreeze in my driveway" Then we ask "Are they in any particular place in relation to the front of the car?" And the customer replies "No, there scattered all over the place!" Then a quick inspection reveals a lower radiator hose thoroughly littered with porcupine quills, which act as straws - wicking antifreeze down the quills one drop at a time!

That porcupine was a "roadkill" victim? They shouldn't be angry with a car in the driveway. Another critter to miss while driving is a skunk, but there aren't as many around as there used to be. Tenants of mine told me they had seen one that had white feet !

Although never having tried it, I recall that porcupine quills are barbed in a spiral pattern -- and they can be removed by patiently twisting them out by hand. Your dog's opinion may be different.

[glennsteely]

You are correct, but the trip was nessesary to get some numbing shots for the dogs mug......he was not a happy camper (pitt bull) and that could be a bad thing....Now speaking of skunks, when I was about 10, we had a doberman that got sprayed chasing a skunk through the picnic area in our community on Spindle Point. I think a lot of people think being sprayed just smells like what you smell while driving in a car, it is false and misleading......the spray on my dog was like mace.....eyes burning and tearing.....burning nostrils, and an uncontrolable gag reflex.....I tossed my lunch the following day taking poor Vicky her food (she was tied up in the wood pile area for a week) and we had no success with the tomato juice thing either.....peeeeeeee-uuuuuuuu!

[LilacHill]

Originally Posted by glennsteely

You are correct, but the trip was nessesary to get some numbing shots for the dogs mug......he was not a happy camper (pitt bull) and that could be a bad thing....

Cuddles has ended up with a face full of stickers and we were able to pull them out with pliers. It was her allergic reaction to the quills that sent her to the vet. Cuddles is a Pit Bull. I think it just depends on the dog.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by LilacHill

I think it just depends on the dog.

I think you're right.

My little guy, while I held him on the table unanesthetized, underwent a scalpel incision in his neck without a whimper. (I mean -- a scalpel incision by the veterinarian, of course).

Originally Posted by jkjoshuatree

6.Bald Eagle (there's a great shot of an eagle eating carrion on the ice that's hanging at the Y Landing store.

Maybe you've heard about the two bald eagles that were dragging a raccoon carcass up the ramp to a airliner?

The flight attendant stated, "You can't bring that on board!"

The larger eagle replied, "...And why not...? It's carrion!"

[upthesaukee]

So, Acres per Second, you also have a violin and say "Take my wife, Please!"?

[ApS]

No more jokes for YOU!



BTW, The photo with the Rhodesian Ridgeback (and the deer dot-back)? I forgot to mention that the Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred in the Union of South Africa to hunt lions.

Regarding the fisher cat: I've seen them, weasels, mink, bald eagles, and beaver close to shore from my canoe or kayak.

It's amazing how much one can see when you sneak up on shorefront critters, sloooooow and quiiiiiiiet.

[upthesaukee]

Like Tweety says, "I taut I taw a puddy tat" or something like that, except in this case , we think it was a Fisher. It was crossing the road about to go over a snowbank on the left side (where's one of those cars who's headlights move when you need them), was dark in color, about the length of a racoon but more slender and could run!!!!! Only saw it for a few seconds, but we know it was not any domestic animal, definitely was not a racoon, don't think it was a weasel, and I do know we have fishers in the neighborhood...you can hear their wail. A great finish to a Valentine's day dinner at Village Pizza, where I sprang for a three topping large pizza 'cause she's worth it!!!!

[ApS]

A little more on the wolf population in NH:
http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=50997

To his last question, I'd answer tht the coyote is persecuted [while the wolf is not] because they are plentiful. Wolves don't tolerate coyotes in their territory, so there will likely be a gradual -- but minimal -- displacement of coyotes.

Folks (like my family) with those wolf-derived creatures we call dachshunds often get stared at (maybe it's all dogs -- I don't know) . Somebody with too much time on their hands sent me this:

[SIKSUKR]

APC,that's a beautifull photo of your self.Just kidding!Thanks,had a good laugh at that one! SS

[ApS]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

"...we think it was a Fisher. It was crossing the road about to go over a snowbank on the left side...don't think it was a weasel, and I do know we have fishers in the neighborhood..."

From what I gather from this article in today's Union -Leader, if you do have a weasel in your neighborhood, you're going to have fewer mice.

(We did see a weasel the one year mice "took over" our stored 24-foot boat).

It's said that weasels are fearless. Here's a photo of a weasel on his way to inspect my shoe!

http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=51248