Noises in the Night If you have ever heard scrabbling in your cabinets and discovered mice, it is a sound you never forget. Years ago, on a trip through the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, we stayed overnight in an adorable little cabin. There was a sign there telling you to clean up after your […]
Mice are not Welcome Visitors Read More »
While Riverdale is hardly the concrete jungle that Manhattan is, we are becoming less and less suburban with all the new high-density construction. Excluding birds and squirrels that are ubiquitous and the occasional cat, mouse and even rat, I am amazed at the number of animal species we can still spot here. This is probably
Skunks are Cute but Don’t Irritate One Read More »
Would You Want a Bat as a Pet I have always thought that bats were unlovely creatures and somewhat sinister to boot. It may go back to that night when we woke up and heard something flying around our bedroom. It turned out to be a bat that had clearly lost its way. I opened
Bats Need Appreciation Also Read More »
Despite recent moderating temperatures (March 2019) here in Riverdale, our recent cold snap is still a searing memory. Fortunately, we humans can retreat into warm homes and heavy clothing, but how do animals cope? Looking through my windows, I still see some bird species gathering at my birdfeeder. I see sparrows everywhere and hear the
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Enter the Rascals It’s hard to believe that an animal with a brain the size of a walnut could be a formidable opponent. But considering that the first signs of squirrels showed up about 36 million years ago (MYA), perhaps I should not have been so cavalier in my attitude. Squirrel – Courtesy S. Jeselsohn
The Squirrel Chronicles Read More »
Shofar and Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashanah will soon be upon us. Although there is a special lengthy prayer service for Rosh Hashana, the central observance of the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. Because of the significance of the shofar blowing, we tend to focus primarily on the auditory aspects of the shofar; that
A Naturalist Looks at the Shofar Read More »
First there was “Einstein the Mouse”. Courtesy of Tiia Monto We had moved into our present home and we looked with wonder at everything around us – plenty of space for our family, a large garden. We were taken with the usual garden animals – squirrels, birds, even the occasional raccoon. Raccoon One day, it
Is My Backyard Becoming a Zoo? Blame it on Little Red Riding Hood but I have always had a deep concern about any animal with teeth longer than mine! And while I expect to see potentially problematic wildlife in remote rural areas or national preserves, it is very unnerving to see them in my backyard.
Outdoor Guests – Coyotes! You Have Got To be Kidding!!! Read More »
Hello Chipmunks I don’t know if I went through a teddy bear stage but at six I was definitely thrilled by chipmunks. At that time we lived in a private house that backed onto a wooded area full of pine trees. It was a big enough space to feel like a forest to me. And
Outdoor guests – adorable chipmunks Read More »
Animals Crowding In Living so close to Westchester, it is only a matter of time until the deer start wandering through the neighborhood. To date, while there is the sporadic sighting Riverdale has been blessedly free of this intrusion. I am particularly grateful since my garden is chock full of hosta which deer seem to
Outdoor guests – Rabbits Moving In Read More »