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I have really been enjoying our mountain oasis. I call it an oasis but in reality it is more of a peninsula; a word I still can’t spell despite growing up in Michigan with its upper and lower peninsula – go figure.

Today, I stormed out the door, onto the deck with my normal over-exuberance and not only startled a wild turkey who sat perched on the edge of our deck rail but I was surprised to suddenly find myself 5-feet from a rather large bird. I had forgotten just how big turkeys can get. (We used to raise turkeys on our Curtice, Ohio farm a lifetime ago.)

This particular turkey has been visiting for a couple of weeks, stopping in, normally in the early evening hours. He was here bright and early this morning. Strange, she just doesn’t look that big in the pictures I’ve been taking, but up close is another story. I could see the texture of the birds wings as she sat preening herself. I’ve been trying to be more quiet when I step outside for a smoke break and what I’ve begun calling my mental health moments.

Our nervous flock of junco’s are finally getting used to me. They will stay and eat pretty close by if I stand relatively still. Of course, any significant movement causes them to get spooked and fly off in unison, which in itself is pretty neat to see and hear. The sounds around our deck can get incredibly loud at times and vary throughout the day depending on the birds and animals that have wandered in.

I try to keep water available on the property for the animals and I put bird seed out for the birds, as well as an occasional crust of bread. I keep dried corn on the cob for the squirrels, which they recently have enjoyed peeling off the cob — I have a small pile of it under the shepherd’s hook. I sprinkle bird seed on the ground from time to time, toss out some peanuts and almonds for the jay birds. Left over potatoes, apples, apple peels, lettuce and carrot scraps make tasty treats for the deer to enjoy.

I try to limit my offeringss to mostly things the animals can and do find in nature.

I’ve been reading some back issues of Birds and Blooms, which has some terrific ideas for making inexpensive homemade bird feeders. I enjoyed several articles and I am considering using some of the neat tips I’ve found. I am a little concerned to read articles about people training wild birds to eat from their hands. I think it’s important that we help the animals survive harsh winter weather. But, there is a huge difference between offering a little assistance to our backyard critters and creating dependence.

If we humans continue to interfere with the natural cycles of nature, we upset the delicate balance and natural order of things. Wild animals are just that – wild – and need to remain so. Hand feeding deer, birds and other wildlife simply isn’t natural and can lead to more harm than good for the animal.

More Magazine and Book Offerings for Bird Lovers:

• WildBird Magazine
• Bird Watchers Digest
• The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible
• Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season

It’s just past noon, the sun shines brightly overhead, then suddenly it ducks behind the clouds, only to reappear moments later. I just love this time of day.

Even though the temperature has only risen 4 tiny degrees (the temperature is 34°), it’s just enough of an increase that the trees can shake loose from their overburdened branches. The falling snow has the sound and feel of someone throwing snowballs at you. The trouble is, I never see them coming. The snow balls drop swiftly and suddenly from the tree branch giving little — if any – warning.

It’s really cool to sit and watch the squirrels play in the snow, only to have a clump of snow fall from the tree and knock them right on their behinds.  They get up, brushing themselves off and look around to make sure no one saw a thing.  Remind you of anyone? 

I’ve been concerned about the doe and her fawn. They tend to only come around when there is snow on the ground, which I find to be curious behavior. I’m wondering if the snow doesn’t assist the deer in eluding the mountain lions, allowing them to come closer into town.

I love the little dears and I’m concerned about them coming here because we are sandwiched in between two busy roads. Fortunately, both roads are traveled mainly by locals who know to watch for the deer. The doe showed up today, she was a little cautious, which I take as a good sign. I want to be able to observe them without interfering with their natural activities.

The fawn didn’t look old enough to me to be venturing off on its own but I am not the local deer expert. I worry that it was hit by a car or that it was eaten by a mountain lion. I mean, I suppose it’s a grand thing if you are a mountain lion but you know women — mention deer and Bambi is the first thing that comes to mind.

Nevermind that I think Thumper stole the show. I could watch an entire program created around Thumper. Don’t you think Thumper the rabbit was awesome?

It’s so beautiful out, I really should be outside enjoying the sun, instead of sitting here at this keyboard writing. The trouble is the driveway is clear, so there is nothing to shovel. I still worry about falling, so I rarely venture out when it’s wet and possibly icy. I wonder how much longer winter will hang around?

The folks living on Sunset Street in Sonora had a little excitment yesterday morning. A young mountain lion was stalking the neighborhood and set his sights on a local man tending his burn pile.

The young man was in his yard tending the burning pile of slash, when suddenly it dawned on him that it was much too quiet. The birds had stopped chirping, the chickens had stopped clucking and everything was still. It was like all of nature was holding it’s breath, when he realized a mountain lion was crouched nearby readying a surprise attack — on him.

The Sonora resident posted on his Facebook page:

“Just got my first glimpse of the mountain lion on the property….I’m sure glad the dogs were inside….I was burning the wood pile at the back of the house and looked up and he or she was staring me down….Holy Shit that was exciting and frightening at the same time….:)”

The young man remained facing the young mountain lion (weighing less than 100 pounds), stood up tall, raising his shovel and backed himself inside his home as quickly as possible. He later learned that the mountain lion had killed a neighbors turkey only the day before. The Sonora resident was most surprised that the mountain lion exhibited no fear of man.

Those living in the high country West of Sonora, should take care to bring their pets and livestock inside before dusk and keep them safe until the daylight hours, as mountain lions normally feed just before sun up or just after sun down.

According to a flier produced by the California Department of Fish and Game: 

Living With California Mountain Lions

If You Encounter A Mountain Lion…

There’s been very little research on how to avoid mountain lion attacks. But mountain lion attacks that have occurred are being analyzed in the hope that some crucial questions can be answered: Did the victim do something to inadvertently provoke an attack? What should a person who is approached by a mountain lion do— or not do? The following suggestions are based on studies of mountain lion behavior and analysis of attacks by mountain lions, tigers and leopards:

• Do Not Hike Alone: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
• Keep Children Close To You: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.
• Do Not Approach a Lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Do Not Run From a Lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• Do Not Crouch Down or Bend Over: In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans standing nearby. He surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a cat’s prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a fourlegged prey animal. If you’re in mountain lion country, avoid
  squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
• Do All You Can To Appear Larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion
  that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
• Fight Back If Attacked: A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

Immediately Report All Encounters or Attacks:

If you are involved in a face-to-face encounter with, or an attack by, a mountain lion, contact the California Department of Fish and Game 24 hour dispatch center at (916) 445-0045. The threat to public safety will be assessed and any appropriate action will be taken. Also report any sightings of dead or injured mountain lions.

Learn more about Mountain Lions.