Animal Life Sightings

[mclark]

So I looked up cecrophilia moth out of curiosity, and I really think that was the giant flying thing I saw near a stand at TasteFest last summer. It was hovering near me and sounded like one of those remote-controlled model airplanes. I don't think I've even seen a flying bug that big in the Upper Peninsula.

[Johnlodge]

LOL my apologies on the bandwidth theft. Here's a link to a picture:

http://www.edupic.net/Images/Insects...ia_moth071.JPG

[DocTerry]

Slim - I had a duckling once, too - they do become very attached, and then can't really protect themselves if they get too tame. I kept mine till it got big enough to want to take off, took it to where there were others of the same variety, and let it go. It continued to come back on its way through town for years - just stopping long enough with a mate for us to say "hello" and to know "Bubbles" was ok and hadn't forgotten. Might want to ask the folks at Belle Isle nature zoo for suggestions.

[rb336]

I had an accidental pet goose for three or four years. the thing just landed in our pond and stayed, never went further. it would hang out on the patio with the family, chase our dog, etc

[ccbatson]

Wild animals as pets is a bad idea. I know someone [[unofficially) with a "frequent deer as a visitor"....bizarre.

[raptor56]

For some odd reason my girlfriend gets all excited when she sees groundhogs on the side of the road over by the cemetery on little mack and masonic. Last spring when she saw them for the first time that year, she got all excited, let out a noise as I was driving, and made it sound like I was about to hit something. Low and behold, there was nothing anywhere near the road, just "cute" little ground hogs over by the fence.

A few years back, my dad got sick of the squirrels digging up his flower garden that he spent hours a day maintaining. Soooo he went out to ACO, bought a live trap, and proceeded to catch over 70 squirrels that summer [[released them in various wooded areas a few miles away). despite the effort, there are still a ton of squirrels in his backyard.

While working at ACO Hardware as a teenager, some guy called looking for info on how to get rid of the moles that were digging up his yard. I took the phone call, and described the various traps, poisons, and gas smoke bombs that he could use. The guy kind of creeped me out when he kept mentioning he wanted these moles to pay, and wanted the trap that would do the most damage. They supposedly just had to die a painful death. I recommended the spear trap, and quickly got off the phone with the dude.

As far as wildlife in my own hood, I live on a golf course with a large pond. The geese, ducks, sea gulls, and a couple gray herons have been keeping the fish pretty busy for about a month now. Oh and the stray cat is still alive and well.

[Detroitej72]

While working at ACO Hardware as a teenager, some guy called looking for info on how to get rid of the moles that were digging up his yard. I took the phone call, and described the various traps, poisons, and gas smoke bombs that he could use. The guy kind of creeped me out when he kept mentioning he wanted these moles to pay, and wanted the trap that would do the most damage. They supposedly just had to die a painful death. I recommended the spear trap, and quickly got off the phone with the dude..

That guy sounds lilke a candidate for future serial killer to me.

[rb336]

For some odd reason my girlfriend gets all excited when she sees groundhogs on the side of the road over by the cemetery on little mack and masonic. Last spring when she saw them for the first time that year, she got all excited, let out a noise as I was driving, and made it sound like I was about to hit something. Low and behold, there was nothing anywhere near the road, just "cute" little ground hogs over by the fence. .

It amazes me how many live groundhogs I see on the side of the road, but rarely [[if ever) do I see one as roadkill

[Crystal]

Slim - I had a duckling once, too - they do become very attached, and then can't really protect themselves if they get too tame. I kept mine till it got big enough to want to take off, took it to where there were others of the same variety, and let it go. It continued to come back on its way through town for years - just stopping long enough with a mate for us to say "hello" and to know "Bubbles" was ok and hadn't forgotten. Might want to ask the folks at Belle Isle nature zoo for suggestions.

Imprinting is a serious concern when raising orphaned wildlife. The baby is not attached or affectionate, but mistakenly thinks the human is a parent that will provide food and shelter.

The best scenario is for a wild baby to be raised by its parents. Second best is to be raised alongside other babies of the same age and species.

[Crystal]

My wife and I are now caring for an abandoned duckling she found this morning. Very cute and already very affectionate. Not afraid of us at all. Any duckling-raising tips are appreciated!

I assume you have a wood duck or mallard, but I don't know for sure. Please keep the bird warm. It should feel warm to the touch, not cool or room temperature. Please do not feed the duckling. Offering it water in a very shallow dish is OK. If it is a a baby wood duck, it will try to jump out of whatever box or container you have it in.

Please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to care for the duckling. A bird raised by itself has a likelihood of becoming tame, in which case it could not be released back into the wild. It is not lawful to harbor a wild animal without state and federal permits, even if it is to raise an orphan.

I do not know what city you live in, so I cannot give you the name of a local rehabber. If you call your local police or fire departments, animal control, or a local veterinarian, they would be able to point you to a rehabilitator. From there, the duckling would be raised with others and hopefully be able to be released in the fall.

[[I cannot take the duckling because I have no other ducklings at this time.)

Good luck, and please act fast.