William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9
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So many of the calls that we receive for “rabid animals” at animal control are typically exaggerations. However, when you meet your first truly sick animal, you don’t forget it. Although it was twenty years ago, I clearly remember this Grey Fox I had to catch in the Jockey Club neighborhood of duplexes. It was in a backyard next to a dog house and quite aware of our presence. But it was barking, rolling in the leaves, pausing to chew on the plywood dog house and just acting bizarre. Since there was no exposure to a human or pet, we didn’t test it for rabies. But there is no doubt something was going on in his head, whether it be rabies or distemper.
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 In 1998, I pulled this raccoon out of an apartment complex dumpster while working for Athens-Clarke County Animal Control. The silly boy climbed in for a free meal and then found he couldn't get back out! A pretty common occurance.
William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 In May of 1998, while working at Athens-Clarke County Animal Control, we received an inordinate number of calls about a Red Fox (Vulpes fulves) walking down the streets of the wooded subdivision near the mall in broad daylight. A few callers even stated the fox was bold enough to enter carports to feast on the free bounty of cat food.
Knowing it was late spring, the conclusion was made that she was a lactating female needing extra nourishment to feed her newborn kits. After narrowing down the location based upon calls of the last few weeks, a little investigation revealed the den site where I encountered several kits at play. I managed a photograph before they darted into their hole more afraid of me than I was of them. Mama fox was a not "rabid beast", but a caring mother just looking to support her family. Most people incorrectly describe snakes and lizards as slimy. As for this little amphibian, the description is quite correct! The Slimy salamander gets its name from the slimy secretions it produces when handled or threatened.
Rough Green Snake; Clarke County, Georgia. Opheodrys aestivus, commonly known as the rough green snake, is a nonvenomous North American colubrid. It is sometimes called grass snake or green grass snake, but these names are more commonly applied to the smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis). (Wikipedia) Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. May 3, 1998 –Going through old boxes and albums looking for my first photos of bird species. This film flashback is from 1998 when I stopped my car along Lexington Road in Athens, GA to get a shot of a Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by crows. Perhaps his intentions were to eat the two Mourning Doves also in the photo.
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