Keep wildlife from getting up close and personal

akilina wrote: from the article
http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/ke ... d-personal

Keep wildlife from getting up close and personal

Keeping bears at bay
• If a bear comes into your yard, scare it away by making loud noises or clapping, banging on pots and pans or sounding an air horn.
• If a bear enters your home, open doors and windows to make sure it has a way to leave.
• Never approach a bear. Call the local Colorado Division of Wildlife office for assistance. If a bear presents an immediate threat, call 911.
• Close and lock all bear-accessible windows. Install sturdy grates over downstairs windows that need to be left open. Bears can get through screens.
• Keep garage doors locked and install heavy-duty doors if there is food and pet food in the garage.
• Remove tree limbs that might give bears access to upper-level windows and decks.
• Replace lever-style doorknobs with round ones that bears can’t push open.
• Play a talk radio station when not home.
• Don’t leave trash and garbage out overnight unless it’s in a bear-proof container.
• Feed birds only when bears are hibernating.
• Don’t leave fragrant items such as candles, air fresheners, soaps and lotions near open windows or in vehicles.

two years ago, I built what I call my "bear window" in our bedroom. We have double french doors going out to deck with screens but I was always uncomfortable leaving the door open to get some fresh air at night. The solution? I put in a small window (about 18" wide) next to the doors. Note to self: HIRE a professional to do this the next time I get this idea. I did it and I did it well, but what a hassle to do! and we have cedar shake siding, so I had to take that off and then creatively put some back around the new window. It is one of my cat's favorite hand outs. I have a fake sheep skin cover over a window perch for her and that is HER spot and I get fresh air!

HA! we . . er. . . I mean . . they are quick change artists for sure!

Wily Fox aka Angela wrote:

akilina wrote: from the article
http://www.canyoncourier.com/content/ke ... d-personal

Keep wildlife from getting up close and personal

Keeping bears at bay
• If a bear comes into your yard, scare it away by making loud noises or clapping, banging on pots and pans or sounding an air horn.
• If a bear enters your home, open doors and windows to make sure it has a way to leave.
• Never approach a bear. Call the local Colorado Division of Wildlife office for assistance. If a bear presents an immediate threat, call 911.
• Close and lock all bear-accessible windows. Install sturdy grates over downstairs windows that need to be left open. Bears can get through screens.
• Keep garage doors locked and install heavy-duty doors if there is food and pet food in the garage.
• Remove tree limbs that might give bears access to upper-level windows and decks.
• Replace lever-style doorknobs with round ones that bears can’t push open.
• Play a talk radio station when not home.
• Don’t leave trash and garbage out overnight unless it’s in a bear-proof container.
• Feed birds only when bears are hibernating.
• Don’t leave fragrant items such as candles, air fresheners, soaps and lotions near open windows or in vehicles.

two years ago, I built what I call my "bear window" in our bedroom. We have double french doors going out to deck with screens but I was always uncomfortable leaving the door open to get some fresh air at night. The solution? I put in a small window (about 18" wide) next to the doors. Note to self: HIRE a professional to do this the next time I get this idea. I did it and I did it well, but what a hassle to do! and we have cedar shake siding, so I had to take that off and then creatively put some back around the new window. It is one of my cat's favorite hang outs. I have a fake sheep skin cover over a window perch for her and that is HER spot and I get fresh air!

I'll confess I always think twice before I fire up my smoker this time of year, the Wundermutt takes his post as sentry while it's running because he knows I'll share some of the final product with him. It's a good thing the Wundermutt doesn't know he is no match for a bear, so far this year I have not seen any bears in my area but I have not looked very hard for signs of them either.

I have seen a few bears around my neighborhood over the years and it's usually when we have a very mild winter and dry spring. So far none of them have been interested in checking out the Cave or getting any closer to the Wundermutt, they have all been preoccupied with getting far away quickly. Must have something to do with all the barking and the M-80's coming at them from my wrist rocket...

Saw the big black sow running across upper Mockingbird last night. She is huge. What happened to small black bears?

Wily Fox aka Angela wrote:

Becky wrote: I have noticed that a good many of our neighbors now have livestock. Sheep, ducks, chickens and such.
In the last week, we have seen more foxes in the yard than we have seen since we built our house.
Foxes have an unusual bark or cry or whatever you want to call it. Though I enjoy seeing them up close, it is a little un-nerving to see so many and for them to appear so accustomed to humans.
Any ideas on how to make my own property a little less agreeable to these guys.
I'll bet I have seen at least 15 foxes in the last few days run across my property.
A few days ago, I actually watched several deer chase one. I thought that was unusual and wondered what the deer would do if they actually caught one. It looked as though they were playing.

FOXES RULE!

and are GREAT for rodent population control

hmmmm so less voles maybe?

yes m'am! and gophers but that also means chipmunks and ground squirrels and bunnies. I haven't seen them catch a tree squirrel, yet

Not good at bunny catching here.

I will now become one with the foxes.

lol The foxes around here leave the rabbits alone, too fast for them.

A friend emailed where some coyotes and mallards were. Went over and watched for awhile. One coyote was digging in the dirt looking for mice, moles, voles, something. The mallards were in the little pond which is so tiny the coyotes could have easily jumped in and snatched them but mallards weren't even phased by them.