The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Each note about the bugs, buds, and birds around us is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns of nature that are quietly unwinding around us.
Gooseville, WI
I don't live in bear country, yet. Black bears Ursus americanus are expanding their populations and their territories south in Wisconsin. Bears are now occasionally being seen in backyards, destroying bird feeders and garbage cans in the next county over. I haven't seen one in my neighborhood yet.
Determined birders and birdwatchers go to great lengths to try to hang feeders high off the ground so bears can't reach them. They design crazy rope and pulley systems, creative pole systems and other wildly imaginative bear-proof concoctions.
confused bear is confused
confused bear is not confused
smarty-pants bear is laughing his ass off
smarty-pants bear notes that the seeds in the bear-proof feeder are a bit stale
Black Bear Range Map
So far, my only bird feeder problems are squirrels, raccoons, possums, Cooper's hawks and chipmunks.
Those in the know will remind us that 'a fed bear is a dead bear'. There is no such thing as a bear-proof bird feeder. If you live in bear country, please remember to feed your birds only in winter when the bears are denning.
I have no new news from Gooseville today...so consider this a PS polly syllabic Message.
So what's happening in your backyard today? Got bears? Got birds, butterflies, blooms, dragonflies or a cool looking skink or salamander? All are welcome to drop a note in the bucket. Oh, and don't forget to remind us of where you're reporting from.
Because it's a slow news day, I'll add this classic...
got'a love the Canadians