Charlie Elk

pseudonym of a man

Charlie Elk’s Back, here’s what happen

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Wolves onto a FightWolf hacktivists hacked my blog.  Apparently, they did not like the post Willowridge put up “Wisconsin Wolves Eat Black Bear,” about wolves eating his bear last fall before he could recover it.  Unfortunately, there are some who will not tolerate any dissension from the narrative, “wolves are friendly, totally nonviolent compassionate animals that never bother anyone” or whatever the wolf activists want to believe. Law enforcement is investigating.   We have a good idea of who was involved in the charlie hack.

charlie is back up, if you signed up to follow posts and comments here, please sign up again.  For security, that information is kept separate and was lost during the transition period due to operator error.  Not because hackers got any information.  They were more concerned about causing a denial of service, in an attempt to destroy my search engine rankings.

No one here “hates” wolves, most of us like and admire wolves.  My primary concern is that if we don’t hunt wolves, they will move into the vermin class rather than continuing to be considered a trophy class animal.  If those activists or if you prefer anti-hunters, thought their actions would censor me. Guess again.  I grew up around wolves in Northern MN, so tune in for wolf posts.

For now, it’s turkey season in Wisconsin.  Working a post about my grandson’s hunt during the youth season.  I start turkey hunting season B.  Good luck to everyone.

Below Zero; Raccoons are Out?

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The cold of winter  2014 continues.  A strange a sight along back roads encased by walls of plowed snow – raccoons, skunks and woodchucks?!

A lot people think these are hibernating animals. To the casual observer  who does not see them all winter or stumbles across one out “sleeping”  in the snow their assumption is usually that raccoons hibernate like bears.  As the length of daylight decreases raccoons begin feeding less while spending more time in their dens.  Their metabolic rate slows down causing a state of  torpor to set in.

Torpor is described as inactivity, lethargic indifference, with suspended physical activity and dormancy.  Raccoons in torpor who venture out are susceptible to predation from aerial predators owls, hawks and eagles, coyotes, bobcats, and  wolves to name a few.  These torpor raccoons can easily be approached by humans and  even be picked up.  Some coons get too tired before returning to the den and fall asleep where they are; a very dangerous thing to do out there.

This raccoon got caught sticking its head out. To check the weather? Feb 27, 2014 was too cold.

This raccoon got caught sticking its head out. To check the weather? Feb 27, 2014 was too cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging out a tree like this dangerous with hungry predators lurking about. After I left this raccoon a group of 3 red shouldered hawks swooped in, knocked him from his den and proceeded to feast on fresh raccoon.

This is one 3 hawks that dined on the raccoon pictured above.

This is one of 3 hawks that dined on the raccoon pictured above.

My camera is old and not so good. When the hawks moved in I was too far away to get suitable pictures. Rather I watched with my binoculars.  This hawk was bullied away by the remaining 2 hawks.  It was not clear if they were mates and the departing hawk was the odd man out or if 3 was a crowd.

Many of my acquaintances have labeled me crazy for going out on subzero winter days.  I keep trying to explain if you are not there you will not see what is going on out there.   That being said there are times while my face is suffering cold burn, each snowshoe step is weighted down in snow powder and if one tips over… Getting up in soft waist deep snow is a challenge…  Perhaps those friends have a point?

 

Buffalo County Wisconsin Cougar Photographed

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News Release Published: July 18, 2012 by the West Central Region WDNR

EAU CLAIRE – An avid outdoorsman, using a trail camera for the first time on recently purchased land in Buffalo County, came up with pictures of a wild turkey, a white-tailed deer and, surprisingly, a wild roaming cougar.
A wildlife biologist with the state Department of Natural Resources, Kris Johansen, visited the site with a warden and confirmed the background vegetation in the photograph matched the site. In addition, the biologist found and identified cougar tracks on a small patch of sand in the area.

Nighttime trail camera picture on July 14-15 making for quite a surprise to the new landowner

However, with dry, hard soil throughout the area, it was not possible to track this animal. Cougars are famous for their ability to remain concealed from view and to move across large distances without being detected. The best chance for additional information on this cougar might be another trail camera or an observant individual who recognizes cougar sign.

Buffalo County is a trophy deer mecca and both landowners and guides use trail cameras extensively.

“There are probably more trail cameras in Buffalo County, per-capita, than in any other county in the state,” said Johansen. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up on camera again.”

While there have been several verified sightings of cougars in Wisconsin in recent years this was only the second verified sighting in 2012. A cougar was verified near Crandon in northeast Wisconsin on March 26. In all cases where biological material was available (hair, scat, blood) the cougars were identified as young, male, North American cougars

DNA testing of biological samples and other evidence has confirmed that at least six individual male cougars have visited Wisconsin since 2008.

This latest cougar was photographed in northern Buffalo County between Gilmanton and Mondovi sometime after dark Saturday. DNR staff is searching the area for additional prints or biological samples, but so far none have been found. Without DNA, it is not possible to say whether this is a new individual or a previously identified cougar.

There is currently no evidence that cougars are breeding in Wisconsin. Biologists believe the cougars known to have entered Wisconsin are male cougars dispersing from a breeding population in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Evidence shows that at least three of these cougars moved on and left the state. One of these, the “St. Croix cougar” that entered Wisconsin from Minnesota during the winter of 2009-2010, was killed by a vehicle in Connecticut in 2011. Biologists estimate that cougar traveled at least 1,055 miles and possibly as far as 1,600 miles.

Cougars are a protected species in Wisconsin and cannot be shot unless attacking a human or a domestic animal. Cougar attacks on humans are exceedingly rare. They are rarely seen even in western states where they exist in high numbers.

By charlie:

Cats like birds.  By most accounts there are more wild turkey poults this year than usual so he should be well feed with no reason to move on.  What you think?