We've had the cutest little young skunk slinking through the yard all week.
It's been here almost every day, snuffling around amidst the flowers, foraging for grasshoppers, beetles, grubs, and caterpillars which it quickly gobbles up.
Skunks are a real asset to gardens, keeping down the population of garden pests, but we're not so sure we want a skunk living close by once it grows up. Skunks are like porcupines in that their defenses are so strong that they have almost no predators and don't feel a need to flee. They are more likely than most animals to stand their ground and deploy their defense mechanism if needed.
Juvenile skunks are often out during daylight when they're learning how to find food, and this one was not one bit fazed by our presence. It would walk right up to the door where I was standing.
Mature skunks are primarily nocturnal and we definitely don't want to step outside at night and startle a skunk that might give us a spray! Living amongst nature is rewarding, but his situation is something we'll have to figure out.
Here's one tasty little tidbit our young skunk would be happy to find, but hopefully not up on our deck.
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| A Geometer |
Inch worms are the larvae of moths in the family Geometridae. The name comes from the Greek geometer which means earth-measure - an apt term for a caterpillar that measures out it travels across the planet one inch at a time. Sometimes this one has a hard time deciding just where it wanted to go next.
On an early morning paddle this week I came across a thick mat of a newly flowering, tiny aquatic plant. 
I think this one is a Conespur Bladderpod.
It's similar to the flower of the Floating Bladderwort, but this one grows in a thick tangled mat rather than a single free-floating plant.
I think this one is a Conespur Bladderpod.
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| Conespur Bladderpod |
It's similar to the flower of the Floating Bladderwort, but this one grows in a thick tangled mat rather than a single free-floating plant.
I also saw Spangle and Star fishing for breakfast with mom - and enjoying the sunrise.
They are growing nicely but they still have along way to go before they're ready to fly.
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| Photo by Ken Buckley |
Spangle is already demonstration her independence by spending time away from the rest of the family. It's nice to watch the nesting season progressing smoothly, at least in the southern half of the lake.
That morning was one of several warm and calm mornings this week - it's the most beautiful time of day.
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| Sunrise on Lake Wicwas. |
