Fawn... It's spring after all.

As I have stated before, Finn and I go for a walk every morning looking for bad guys.  On the way home I decided to look at a certain section of fence.  I saw a brown spot, not really sure what it was, I was careful.   Finn was off following another scent, thank goodness.  This is what I found.

Four Wheeling Frog

Every Morning Finn and I take a walk through the fields..checking for bad guys...  Here's one that was a little out of place.  He was out in the middle of the goat pasture about 1/4 mile from the pond.  I decided it needed to go back to the pond.

Frog started out in the coffee can... about half way to the pond it jumped out onto the seat right next to me and then to the floor.  I must say, I did let out a yell when it landed right next to me as I was driving!

Back at the pond, door open.  It was amazing, when it heard the other frogs croaking it starting paying attention..one leap onto the ground, second leap into the pond and it swam away.  Happy ending for the frog...

Big Cat Country

Missouri Conservation

What is one of the largest wild mammals in Missouri? What large mammal sometimes sleeps on and hunts from tree limbs? What mammal can make leaps up to 10 feet? The answer to all three questions: the bobcat.

The bobcat is found only in North America, where it is the most common wildcat. This handsome animal has tufted ears, a tawny coat with black spots and a ruff of fur that flares from its cheeks and neck.

The bobcat gets its name from its stubby or “bobbed” tail, which is only 4 to 6 inches long. The rest of the cat’s body may be from 2 to 4 feet long. Bobcats weigh up to 40 pounds.

Its spotted fur camouflages it well as it hunts for food. Unlike coyotes, for example, which usually trot along when hunting, the bobcat hunts slowly, frequently stopping and sitting for minutes at a time as it studies its environment. It uses its acute sight and hearing more than its sense of smell to find prey.

When the bobcat does spot prey, it lowers itself into a crouch and creeps slowly forward. Bobcats place their front feet down so carefully and noiselessly that their prey does not hear them coming. Then, as they move forward, they place their hind feet in the same spots, so no extra sound is made. When it’s close enough, the bobcat leaps and pulls down the victim with its sharp claws.

“The bobcat’s diet is 70 percent rabbit,” says Dave Hamilton, a resource scientist and furbearer biologist at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Resource Science Center in Columbia. Bobcat diets also include a variety of small mammals, such as shrews, mice, squirrels and opossums; birds, such as wild turkeys and quail; and, occasionally, deer.

Because there is too much meat on a deer to eat at one time, the bobcat caches or covers it with ground litter. It may come back and feed on the remains later. However, if other food is plentiful, it may not bother to return for the meat.

Bobcats sometimes prey on domestic stock, such as chickens, turkeys, piglets, sheep and goats, but they’re not really a threat to farmers. They may also eat carrion (dead animals) if food is scarce.

These wildcats can live almost anywhere, from swamps, forests and farmlands to scrubby and arid regions, as long as there is some cover to hide in. They often rest in caves or hollow trees and under rock overhangs.

Starting to catch up

Well it looks like I have dropped the ball again!  Here's what happened in April 2016..

 Finn is ready for the babies~

 Here they come

 Pinky the blind goat with her twins.

 Wow these guys are sure little~

They guys have found a great place to sleep.

 Spring has arrived!

Moss...before the cold snap

From these pictures, maybe we should re name the place to Green Rock Ranch...

Random shots from the farm and area

Wow I have really dropped the ball here.  I have been taking pictures just not posting.  Here are a couple from around the farm and the neighborhood.  We have had such a mild winter, we have been out and about a lot.  Time to get serious, baby goats will start withing the next two weeks!!!