Glad you didn't get bit! I had to untangle a few black snakes from the deer netting I put up on my roses outside. One time I found a bigger one and it was stuck. I grabbed his (or her) head and was using my pocket knife to cut the plastic netting off the snake. I had to be careful because it had gotten wound pretty tight in the netting. I was just about done when the meter reader guy came up in his truck. I was distracted and the snake was able to move his (or her) jaw sideways and got me with one fang. I kept talking to the meter reader and just pulled him (or her) off my hand. I didn't even flinch, ha ha! They guy didn't even know that I had gotten bit. I felt a bit weird for the rest of the day but lucky for me black snakes here aren't poisonous. They will also hiss and strike if they are tangled in netting. Last time I 'caught' a snake in deer netting I had to use my rose gloves because I was pregnant at the time and didn't want to risk anything.

I've never seen hummingbirds in my heuchera before this year either. It's strange because they haven't been visiting the plants I normally see them on. This particular bird was a much brighter color than the ones I'm used to seeing. He was also quite a bit larger. I don't know what might have changed in the ecosystem, but obviously something has. I've found that the lack of pollinators (bees in particular) in general to be disturbing. You might as well leave the flowers on your heuchs. You never know who they may attract.

I'm not any sort of an expert but I'd vote for fox on this one, based on the head/ears shape/proportion. If this was a young fox, 10am might not be too unreasonable. Foxes gotta get a clue (and breakfast) too.. You might call DNR or the Parks/Rec folks or the Extension office (if they have such a thing here) to see if there have been other sightings. If they have, you can find out whether you need to be concerned about the critter being ill/scary. But HOW COOL to see that in the yard! I saw one about 1/2 mile from the house one early evening, very surprising to me but not totally unexpected since we have several woodsy areas nearby, along with the race track/training area. Lynne in Bowie Here is a link that might be useful: Link to compare pics of local coyote and fox

Fortunately, I think, turkeys are hunted pretty heavily around here, so they are people-shy. I get them in large flocks of 20 or more, but they stay out in the cornfields and rarely come close. They do come up sometimes to the edge of the chicken enclosure to check out their cousins, but always hightail it (pun intended) back to the cornfields, when I go outside. I have more problems with deer, who have no fear of people, and who think that my garden is a wonderful smorgasbord put out just for them. They come right up to the house. If I were more aggressive, IÂd pop one and fill my deep freezer. littleonefb, if the turkeys are ever a problem when you are outside, just raise your arms over your head, make a lot of noise, and charge right at them. I guarantee, they will retreat. As an added bonus, your neighbors will also stop bothering you. ngam, we have fishers up here, too. They have that weird, hump-backed loping run. Ever hear one call at night? They sound like someone screaming in the woods, like they are being skinned alive. During a visit last year my father was in a panic one morning, when he heard one during the night. The local police say that they can always tell when a new person moves in, because they eventually get a call about someone being murdered out in the woods. terryboc, that must have been quite a sight to see. IÂve yet to see a hawk make a score up close and personal, except over at the raptor center in Quechee, VT, which just isnÂt the same. With all the small, furry critters running around out there, I always find the hawks, eagles, etc. to be a welcome sight. narcnh Here is a link that might be useful: VINS Nature (Raptor) Center