Have you noticed either a decline or increase in certain kinds of animals in the area where you live?

I've seen an increase in ants and mosquitoes, but that's it.

It was a brown pelican I saw on the bridge in 1969. Last year, after I had been seeing them for a while I looked 'em up on the web. The brown pelican likes salt water and actually lives as far north as Delaware. They were almost wiped out in this area from overuse of DDT. They nest on the ground, so the eggs and hatchlings were particularly susceptible to poisoning from ground contact. Since DDT was banned in 1972, they have made quite a good comeback. I only returned to Virginia in 1991, but it has been only the last couple of years that I started noticing them. In the course of my job, I drive between Norfolk and Hampton three times a day across the Monitor-Merrimack Bridge-Tunnel, and that is where I see these flocks. They look cool, kind of like pterodactyls flying through the air.

Nope. Then again, I don't pay much attention to things like that.

No

Ive seen fewer toads,which is bad because the slug population is high,I hate slugs because they are slimy and leave a slime trail wherever they go.

Probably not as many elk as before and deer

> It was a brown pelican I saw on the bridge in 1969. Last year, after
> I had been seeing them for a while I looked 'em up on the web. The
> brown pelican likes salt water and actually lives as far north as
> Delaware. They were almost wiped out in this area from overuse of
> DDT. They nest on the ground, so the eggs and hatchlings were particularly
> susceptible to poisoning from ground contact. Since DDT was banned
> in 1972, they have made quite a good comeback. I only returned to
> Virginia in 1991, but it has been only the last couple of years that
> I started noticing them. In the course of my job, I drive between
> Norfolk and Hampton three times a day across the Monitor-Merrimack
> Bridge-Tunnel, and that is where I see these flocks. They look cool,
> kind of like pterodactyls flying through the air.

I have seen those Seagulls here in Colorado and kinda strange to see a Seagull in the rocky mountains

Heh. Yes. Skwerls.

For some reason, they are infesting my neighborhood.

It might have something to do with the two wooden houses attached to my tree. Or maybe it's the feeder that I keep filled with seed. It's possible that it has something to do with the ears of corn and peanuts that I throw out daily.

> I have seen those Seagulls here in Colorado and kinda strange to see
> a Seagull in the rocky mountains


These aren't seagulls though, they are pelicans, quite different. Of course we have seagulls here too. Mostly they hang out along the beaches. But during the winter, they tend to move further inland as the beaches are deserted. My brother once came across a seagull in the parking lot of a strip mall, hopping on one leg. This gull hopped right up to him and he saw one leg was missing. The bird kind of cawed hopefully at him. My brother checked out his pockets and told the bird, "I've got nothing for you. Go away!" and made a shooing motion with his hand. The bird then untucked his "missing" leg from under his body and walked away on two legs. When another patron opened a nearby car door this bird tucked his leg back under his body and started hopping toward the new customer.

> Heh. Yes. Skwerls.
>


Y'know, I heard they are good to eat. Of course, you have to be careful of tularemia. I would learn how to identify tularemia in rodents before I actually ate 'em.

We have quite a few skwerls in our yard too, despite a cat and a dog who are out quite frequently. I think that is because of the two black walnut trees and one pecan tree we have though.

Heh! How about that. The spellchecker doesn't like "skwerls". I wonder why?

There is a black walnut tree behind my house. I always find the piles of little dried peels laying about. I also have a pin oak, which is where some of mine live. It started with acorns and walnuts and progressed to this stage. I also have blue jays that stop by regularly for the peanuts.

My little dogs mingle freely with the squirrels in the yard. There is no fear.

I have a friend who has a set of grandparents from Portugal. They live in a beautiful old neighborhood in the city and trap and eat squirrels in their backyard.

It's what I call them when I'm trying to get their attention

Skwerl!! Wannapeanutskwerl?!

> |> I have seen those Seagulls here in Colorado and kinda strange
> to see
> |> a Seagull in the rocky mountains
>
>
> These aren't seagulls though, they are pelicans, quite different.
> Of course we have seagulls here too. Mostly they hang out along
> the beaches. But during the winter, they tend to move further inland
> as the beaches are deserted. My brother once came across a seagull
> in the parking lot of a strip mall, hopping on one leg. This gull
> hopped right up to him and he saw one leg was missing. The bird kind
> of cawed hopefully at him. My brother checked out his pockets and
> told the bird, "I've got nothing for you. Go away!" and made a shooing
> motion with his hand. The bird then untucked his "missing" leg from
> under his body and walked away on two legs. When another patron opened
> a nearby car door this bird tucked his leg back under his body and
> started hopping toward the new customer.
>
>

Sounds like they want some attention feed me feed me they are saying and how cute of them , yes they are very
smart it sounds like to tuck one leg in like that for food they are not dumb at all and what a way to get some food
gee wow how cool .
It is amazing! how big these Eagles are they are like huge plus we get these types of black birds and they scavage
for food on the ground and they eat of dumpsters and gee they are very big as well about the size of a cat?

Can't say that I have.

There are a lot less chipmunks around since we started letting our cats outside.

We haven't lived in this area long, but I heard from someone who has lived here a while that there used to be lots of bunnies. I've never seen a bunny here. I wish we had bunnies! I've joked with my wife about doing some sort of bunny repopulation experiment here...

> There are a lot less chipmunks around since we started letting our
> cats outside.
>



> We haven't lived in this area long, but I heard from someone who has
> lived here a while that there used to be lots of bunnies. I've never
> seen a bunny here. I wish we had bunnies! I've joked with my wife
> about doing some sort of bunny repopulation experiment here...

There is little chance that such an experiment would fail. Best not to let your neighbors know you are planning this experiment though, especially if some of them are avid gardeners. We've got bunnies here in Hampton Roads even though this is quite a densely populated part of Virginia.

I'd be more concerned that the cats would start bringing dead bunnies back to the house.

Sea gulls, but I live at a lake and it's spring.

> I'd be more concerned that the cats would start bringing dead bunnies
> back to the house.

Dang Bill, how big're your cats? A bunny is a bit bigger than a chipmunk. I'm not really sure the average domestic cat could handle a grown bunny, kicking and eeping all over the place. Or are your cats actually lynxes or cougars?

A friend of ours who had smaller cats (than our bigger cat) has gotten dead bunnies. So, it seems possible. Though, I wonder the same thing as you. Our bigger cat is on the large side, but for the most part only brings back rodents and birds that are small.

> Ive seen fewer toads,which is bad because the slug population is high,I
> hate slugs because they are slimy and leave a slime trail wherever
> they go.

Y'know, if slugs are a problem in your garden you can make slug traps with empty jars and some beer. Put a little beer (an inch or two) in the jar then put the jar in the ground so the top of the jar is level with the ground. The slugs are attracted to the beer and fall into the jar where they drown. Yet another use use for that marvelous beverage, beer.

No

Noticed a decline in the stray cats around the neighborhood, noticed pigeons eating seeds or something in my front yard (never seen pigeons around here before)

Bees, humming birds and roadrunners seem to have decreased

I dont see as many fireflys around anymore.

I saw bunnies in a nearby park before... between April and September I'm there a few times a week, and that's the first time I've ever seen them there. Aw, they were so cute
And hello

hello!

...where we used to live (suburbs near Boston), my wife and I went for an early morning walk a few times and we saw bunnies... they were kind of magical, in contrast to the suruban setting... maybe part of the magic was how quiet and peaceful it was with everyone asleep and the bunnies coming out.

If by animals you mean cockroaches and by the area where I live you mean my appartment, then yes - I've seen a huge increase

My neighborhood is PACKED with bunnies.

I grew up a few blocks away from where I live now, and a girl in the neighborhood had a backyard filled with rabbit hutches when we were kids. Over the years, many escaped and became wild bunnies. So, this neighborhood has more than it's share. I'd send you some, but I really enjoy the surprise of walking outside and finding one in the front yard.... and seeing the little bunny hops in the snow all over the 'hood in the winter.

I WANT BUNNIES!!!!

When I lived out in the country, I really missed squirrels.

It's a whole other world, living in a place where people hunt squirrels. The squirrels hid deep in the pine forests, never venturing to our yards and porches. They fear people there in a way my city squirrels have never felt.

Actually, now that I think about it. I saw less wildlife when I lived in the country than I do now. Here, I see squirrels, chipmunks, the hawk, blue jays, cardinals, all sorts of finches and woodpeckers, bunnies, raccoons, and possums almost every day. They live amongst us.

In the country I once ran over a black snake and found one hanging in my pump house. Hamilton carried in a salamander and a mole. And I had mice. That's all the wildlife I saw.

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

Have you seen this squirrel melts video?

We had nice grey squirrels in the suburbs. But, we've only seen a couple here. Instead we have mean little red squirrels that make a lot of noise. I miss the grays...

We see more wildlife here, though we did see a good amount in the suburbs. Partly, we just have a wider view now, but also we get more stuff like turkies (common) and moose (rare).

But, no bunnies!

Jen found a bunch of snakes near our chimney one time in early spring. It seemed like they were trying to stay warm.

That's definitely why that one was out on the pumphouse. I forget what, but there was something out there to keep the pipes from freezing. The snakes were actually pretty neat.

I think the reason I saw less is that they had places to hide in the woods. Around here, there's nowhere to hide anymore but the sewers.

I have never seen a moose in the wild. That would be so cool.

Trade ya a moose for a bunny.

> Have you seen this
> squirrel melts video?
>

Squirrel melts...gotta try that sometime. Our dog sometimes catches a squirrel or two out in the yard. Now if only I could convince Sharon to let me make some squirrel melts with one...

> Bees, humming birds and roadrunners seem to have decreased

Fewer roadrunners eh? Perhaps there has been an increase in the coyote population...

Yes, now there are TWO mockingbirds in the neighborhood.

The white-flies on the hibiscus bush are in decline since I started spray washing the leaves.

> I have a friend who has a set of grandparents from Portugal. They
> live in a beautiful old neighborhood in the city and trap and eat
> squirrels in their backyard.

Don't they have an indoor kitchen?

Ooh, now here's an invention. It's like one of those cages where the door snaps shut, but it's a microwave oven.

My current area is pretty suburban, so there aren't all that many noticeable animals about - at least not compared with the semi-rural outskirts where I grew up.

You know what I meant!

> |> I have a friend who has a set of grandparents from Portugal.
> They
> |> live in a beautiful old neighborhood in the city and trap and
> eat
> |> squirrels in their backyard.
>
> Don't they have an indoor kitchen?


Well, y'know Kristal, sometimes I like to eat in my backyard, even though I do have an indoor kitchen.

yes. There are minor and major fluctuations every year. I noticed some really bizzarre insects and birds 6 months after the hurricane Katrina. And in the 70's the song birds were everywhere. They haven't been back. Except the last few years I did notice a few songbirds. I don't know for sure if it was just a migratory thing or not.
When the coyotes are ample, the bunnies are thinned out. Than there's a big shoot, and bunies are everywhere and than coyotes herds grow...oh whatever...

> Have you seen this
> squirrel melts video?

That just.....seemed.....wrong...

> That just.....seemed.....wrong...

I thought it was funny ... and the finished squirrel melt sandwiches looked delicious.

X 10
It is funny, that's why it seems wrong

beaver, deer, squirrel, and various birds

> beaver, deer, squirrel, and various birds

Okay. Have they increased or decreased?

Yes, I see coyotes more

I haven't noticed an increase or decrease

Well, this morning I noticed an increase in the grey fox population right in my neighborhood. Or immediately adjacent to it at least. I finished up a graveyard shift and drove through an area that used to be low income housing years ago. The city condemned the houses (they actually were tinderboxes) a long time ago, evacuated everyone and then took years to demolish them. That done, they spent another many years trying to figure out what to do with the land. They finally sold it to the local community college, maybe five years ago, and just last year the college got around to building something on one teeny fraction of it. During this time of course, nature has been taking over. It would be a wonderful area to forage in, except it is posted and cops love to hang out there, hiding behind undergrowth to catch anyone driving over 28 miles an hour through the area. Anyway, I drove through because it's a shortcut to a grocery store that sells my favorite brands of beer, and a grey fox just sort of casually trotted across the street from some bushes into what has become a sort of marshy pond on the other side. I was taken by how large it was compared to the red foxes I have seen from time to time in the neighboring city of Chesapeake.

A very important one comes to mind now, in Southern Califonia there were many BLUE BUTTERFLIES when I was growing up. Of 36 species, most are endangered or extinct now. It sees to me to indicate the end of the magic of the garden fairy circle era.

I live in a city centre - other than the odd pigeon there's no other animals (other than the rats and things I can't see) at all really. It's sad :(