Doe resting near lake
For, lo, the winter is past,
the rain is over and gone;
the flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land
Song of Solomon, King James Bible
I haven’t blogged in several days because, when I haven’t been working on my book, I’ve been outdoors and I can’t see the computer screen in the glare, not to mention how difficult it is to balance a laptop on the back of a horse or on a rowing shell. I have always claimed to be a winter person and I do love the snow and the long nights and beautiful light that we have here in New England during the cold months. But this was a long winter and even the heat isn’t bothering me the way it used to. I’m sure I’ll be griping about it by the end of the day, which promises to be another scorcher.
The other day, I was playing tennis with some friends and a snapping turtle was casually laying her eggs right next to the court. She took her time. It was a slow process, she seemed to have laid most of the eggs before we arrived, but she produced a couple more while we played. When she was finished laying the eggs, which were white and round and rubbery looking, she proceeded to cover then up. Very slowly. She was parked with her tail to the nest and she stared sternly at the woods ahead where a cool river flows. It was clear she would have liked to have been in those cool woods. But she had a job to do, so she cocked one leathery hind leg, ever so slowly, and then pushed back a small amount of dirt over the eggs with her flat, spiky-toed reptilian foot. Then she rested for about half an hour. Then she repeated the process with the other foot. Another half-hour rest.
My friends and I were stomping about the court, chasing the ball, hitting forehands and backhands and sometimes we had to run quite close to the fence against which our indolent old Mrs. Snapper was setting up her nursery, but she wasn’t bothered in the least, nor did our high energy level seem to make any impression upon her, or encourage her to hurry up. We wanted her to cover the eggs quickly, because we knew that birds or raccoons or foxes would get them, if they could find them. We were all moms playing that morning and all mothers worry about other mothers and their babies.
“Hurry, hurry, mama,” we quietly urged her, whenever we took a break. “The crows! The raccoons, hurry!” She just scowled and looked away. Mothers hate it when other mothers try to tell them how to take care of their kids.
The courts where we play are at a school that that also has indoor courts where we play in the winter, and last month, after playing there, a friend pointed out a lovely fox – a red vixen – who was sunning herself next to a tree. My friend explained that the fox had a litter of babies, little fox kits, hidden in a burrow under the tree. Sometimes, she told me, the fox allowed her kits to come out and play on the lawn in broad daylight. This amazed me, because the tree happens to be right next to a path where the kids walk from their classrooms to the gym. My friend, whose husband works at the school, explained that she read that foxes have learned that the safest place to have their babies is close to the humans, because we no longer prey upon them, but their other predators (coyotes, bears, bobcats) still fear us and won’t come close to an area like this, where dozens of people large and small, pass each day. This fox seemed to be very unafraid of the children, who had been warned to leave her and her litter alone and to only admire them from a safe distance. They’re crafty, indeed, those foxes, making bodyguards of us humans. This one was especially wise to have chosen a school where there is a rule that all dogs must be kept leashed. I wonder if the turtle was using the same philosophy when she chose to lay her eggs next to a tennis court where women lumber back and forth, shrieking and waving tennis rackets about. What predator would dare approach?
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret places of the stairs,
let me see thy countenance,
let me hear thy voice;
for sweet is thy voice,
and thy countenance is comely.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes ….
for our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon
Thanks so much for this. B. E. A. utiful
Naomi
Really, really lovely, Ann! Thank you!
Isn’t it amazing how animals have learned to live in the world of humans! I was surprised to read from the blog that the mama fox wanted her babies near humans.
I wonder if the snapping turtle is cursing her husband for having babies in the summer – at least she doesn’t have to deal with swollen feet!
I just love today’s post. I would enjoy the chance to see the mother laying her eggs, what luck for you girls. I also like the poetry posted today, very fitting. It is summer, we must take time to enjoy it, it seems to go so fast.
Thank you, Ann…….Lillian Hellman wrote so hauntingly of snapping turtles, and now here you come with your turtle and the little foxes and Song of Solomon….how perfect.
Ann, My children and I were lucky enough not only to watch a snapping turtle lay her 62 eggs but saw them hatch which is very rare since they have enough food for a year in those shells. We helped 52 surviving babies into the creek below our house. Of course my husband, the voice of reason, said upon learning of our midwifery, “You put 52 snapping turtles in our creek!”
What a sweet story about the mama turtle. I hope her eggs/babies will remain safe. The story about the fox and her kits is so interesting, and it sounds like a great school. The Song of Solomon was the perfect accompaniment to your photos today. You do seem to have a knack this, Ann.
Those are very cool stories. I have never come that close to nature, but sure would love to see a turtle covering her little eggs. I hope they’ll be okay! Now I’ve got one more thing to worry about.
That’s so funny Aislinn, that’s what I was thinking, as i thought about the eggs for the hundredth time that day. I’m a little obsessive
What a great story. It reminds me of the foxes that used to live in our backyard. We’ve lived in our current house for the past six years. For the first four years, every spring between 9 – 11 am, a family of foxes would emerge from the gully in our back yard. Mama and papa fox would stand sentinel ten yards apart while their litter of 3-4 would come out of the den, sit on the rocks, and play in our yard for 20-30 minutes. Once their play time was over, mama would take the pups back to the den while papa would take off toward the neighbor’s yard. I often wondered if he had another family to protect or if he needed his own space. Regardless, we looked forward to seeing the new puppies each day during the spring.
Two years ago we got our own puppy, Quincy. Even though she’s our ambassador of love, she wasn’t the foxes. We haven’t seen the foxes since Quincy has taken over the back yard.
Colleen, I’m sure the fox family have moved to another dogless home, but that must have been nice to be able to observe them and I’m sure they chose your backyard for the same reason as the fox in the school. Their proximity to you assured them some safety from predators. I just love that. I also love the idea that Mr. Fox had a secret second family! I’m sure he was off hunting. They eat a lot of rodents, another great reason to have them around.
I like that wildlife are actually seeking out humans for sanctuary. I hope the little ones make it. Lily Belle looks like she’s part fox, I’m sure she will enjoy the grapes. Happy First Birthday my Sweet Babe!
Glora
Happy 1st birthday Dear Lily Belle! I can’t believe she is a year old already, Gloria! Give her a cookie from Annabelle and Graham (my Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, who think there is nothing better than a cookie, any cookie).
AW, Lily Belle, happy birthday
Beautiful post today…thanks Ann. I will be a “new mother” in two weeks….some of you may recall my husband and I lost our beloved Labrador Retriever, Murphy, in February. We have decided our home is too empty…we are ready for a new addition, and are bringing home a precious new yellow puppy in 2 weeks. He was born on May 7. I am nervous and excited, and feeling a little guilty too. The whole “replacement” thing…..Looking forward to a new beginning though.
Exciting news Maureen! A yellow lab retriever puppy? Sounds like you will have your hands full.
Gloria
Maureen, I’m so happy for your new little one. I hope a link will appear in the near future w/lots of puppy-face photos!
Thanks for the loveliness, Ann.
Does our boy have a name yet? My next dog is going to be Cricket, I just love that name. Good fo you, how fun.
Yes, a yellow lab retriever puppy. I have been reading up on my puppy raising skills, as it has been a while. I’d forgotten how much work it is. Looking forward to it though. No name yet, suggestions most welcome!!
I saw a beautiful big yellow lab, a male, and his name was Mulligan. Thought it was a great name for a lab. Just a suggestion. I have German Shepherds myself that are wonderful.
Stephanie
Oh yellow lab pups are adorable. My friend has a litter of Aussie Pups. I’ll post photos today. Insanely cute
Awesome post!! Connecting with wild creatures is a privilege.
I saw a fox approaching our sleeping barn cat, who was taking a mid day nap on a rock in front of our barn. The fox came up behind the cat, the cat opened his eyes, they sniffed, and the fox went on his way. Till this day, I wouldn’t believe it, only that I saw it with my own eyes.
Stephanie
WOW. They must know each other. Both foxes and cats like to hunt at night and I’m sure they’ve encountered each other before. Interesting that they are not threatened. Maybe they met when they were both youngsters.
Ooh, I have an idea for a children’s book. But it’s your story, Stephanie. You write it. But if you don’t want to, would you allow me? Maybe we could all collaborate and the proceeds from the book could go to a charity involving peace
That sounds exciting to me. You are the writer. The only explanation I have for it is that we let everything go in peace on our property, feed different things, no matter what. I always felt it was a safe place for them all and maybe they sense it somehow. We never have any problems. There was litter of fox kits that used to play on our manure pile out back. So, maybe somehow they did meet. The only threat here is a hawk. This cat was named “Barney” the barn cat who just took up residence one day.
Stephanie
I have a feral cat (we call him Lazarus because he used to disappear from November to March and then just show up at the deck slider door in early Spring – then I got him fixed and up to date with shots and now he’s a keeper) that I have been nurturing for 3 years. I made him an igloo house under our deck and he shows up faithfully for breakfast and dinner. As the weather gets warmer he suns himself on the deck and sleeps on the chaise lounge. BUT, he seems to get along with the raccoon and the skunk that linger at dusk near the bird feeders. A couple of nights ago, the raccoon got right up next to him (I think Lazzie boy is hard of hearing) and smelled him and Lazarus didn’t budge). Me, I was having a heart attack thinking that my furry friend had met his end and was hoping it would be fast. Then, the very next night Pepe Le Pew showed up underneath the hosta and Lazarus went over and sniffed him. It’s quite an interesting summer.
That is how Barney started out, sleeping in a box on our porch but he loved having the barn as his residence. It is quite a place for a cat. Two floors to himself, two square meals, and the warmth of the horses and hay in the winter. He also had the freedom to come and go as he pleased. I guess all the different animals come in contact with each other and some how figure it out. Like the wild animals in Africa who come to a common watering hole. It seems they are smarter than the human race.
Enjoy your new puppy, Maureen! I recommend a crate. Makes training so much easier. My dogs LOVE their crates, and I find them snoozing in there all the time. I think his name should be Henry. That sounds like a nice name for a yellow Lab boy.
Thanks Sandra!! I absolutely agree on the crate. My last lab had 4 leg surgeries as an adult, which required very strict recooperation, and confinement to a crate. He could have lost a leg on one if we didn’t follow instructions to the letter. I was so grateful he was used to a crate, and liked it. I didn’t use all the time when he was an adult, but it was so great that I could when I needed to. Thanks for the name suggestion too!
We were slammed by a storm Thursday night and have not had power or internet ever since. Well, we might have it now but we came into the city last night for a birthday party of a dear friend. I’ll be heading back out soon, but wanted to catch up on blog first. I missed you guys for those 24 hours!
Hope you didn’t have damage at your house! I’m just leaving Cali but heard that some roads were closed there.
Turtles, foxes, puppies and poetry…..what a great blog
Hello Ann,
You most probably do not remember me but I think a year or so ago on your blog you put up a photo of some sort of animal skull with huge teeth you had found on your property. I showed it to my daughter’s then boyfriend, a young vet who could not understand how such a skull could be found so far up north on your property; it looked like a mountain lion and he just shrugged( I did not tell him it was your photo) saying it must be a hoax……….well open up today’s
NY Times page page A17………
Best,
Elise
Elise!! I’m dying to know!! What’s on page A17?
Elise, you have to tell us…what’s on page A17???
On page 17A of Monday June 13th’s NY Times at the bottom of the page is an article entitled
“Claims of Mountain Lions Roaming in Connecticut Drew Groans……….Until Last Week” with a photo of a mountain lion killed last week in Milford Connecticut!
Perhaps that unexplainable skull Ann found on her property was after all a mountain lion as Ann had (I think) originally thought.
Best to all,
Elise
Thanks, Elise!
How come it was killed? Did it attack anything? If not, it may just have went on its way. That always seems to be the first response of most people. Sad. Hope it wasn’t a mother.
I just found a link to this story. It was hit by a car and died from injuries. I live not far from this area, and have heard reports in the past of mountain lion sightings, but never really believed it was true. I guess they were!!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/us-mountainlion-killed-idUSTRE75B1JE20110613
There have been sightings of mountain lions in Litchfield County (many in our neighborhood) for more than 20 years. The DEP denied their existence since no mountain lion had been hit by a car :-/
Nobody has had any trouble with them so I hope people don’t get too nutty about cats now.
Now I can’t find the blog entry with the photo of skull. But so many people have claimed to see mountain lions in this area that I’m not surprised that one has finally been found. A few years ago several horses were mauled by something that could only have been a mountain lion. None killed, but terrible lacerations
Ann, weren’t your horses once charged by wiley, run-away sheep?