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Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:14 AM Feb 2021

I hope my Ferals have snowshoes.

Their feeding station was totally drifted in so I went out and tried to stomp them a pathway. Then I shoveled out a big space and refilled their dishes. I think the problem will be, this snow is VERY light and fluffy which makes it deceptively deep so they won't be able to navigate from wherever they are sheltering. I might go out later on and make some more paths.

I'm not even thinking about clearing the driveway. It's just too cold and windy and there's nowhere I need to go, for now. Instead I'm going to make a big pot of Navy Bean soup and put a fire in the fireplace. And I'm going to worry about the kitties.


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Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
4. I love watching them, and live in hope they will start to trust me
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:26 AM
Feb 2021

I guess they are my 'pet' project.

North Shore Chicago

(3,253 posts)
2. My neighbor and I
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:21 AM
Feb 2021

were texting about the challenging situation our outdoor animal friends are in due to extreme amounts of snow. She has salt licks and I put our fruits and nuts distributed under bushes.

Thank you for being so kind hearted!

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
3. I've filled the bird feeders and will put out some fruit, too
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:25 AM
Feb 2021

We already had about 6" of snow on the ground, so an additional 4 or 5" of DRIFTING snow is making things miserable for everyone.

I haven't heard a single snow blower, yet, in the neighborhood.

LakeArenal

(28,713 posts)
5. How do you keep feral cats off the bird feeder?
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:36 AM
Feb 2021

I have expressed my feelings on feral cats before. Not a popular opinion here.

So how do you keep the neighbors feral cats out of the bird feeders?

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
6. I put their food in the back yard and the bird feeders are in the front.
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 11:47 AM
Feb 2021

Ever since I started that routine, the only time they seem wander in front of the house is at night. AND their path is right next to the foundation of the house. I have yet to see one anywhere near the feeders, and I look out that window a lot, during the day.

Funny thing is, I rarely see the ferals before late afternoon/early evening and they are most active in the middle of the night. Some nights I have to turn off the back yard motion detection camera because the alert keeps waking me up.

The biggest threat I've seen to these birds comes from one of their own. There's a little raptor that hangs around in the pine trees and I've watched that POOF of feathers resulting from it grabbing a meal. More than once, actually, but fortunately not often.

LakeArenal

(28,713 posts)
7. That's lucky. At dawn they are in my feeder.
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 12:07 PM
Feb 2021

When we get home they are in he feeder.
At night they are yowling at the feeder.

County said “don’t say I said this but I’d shoot them”.

We won’t shoot them.

When we fired a gun over their heads (we live in country) the “owner”had a fit and reported me under the guise of shooting known pets. I asked the sheriff to show me one vet receipt to prove ownership of even one cat and he didn’t return.

Siwsan

(26,173 posts)
8. Maybe order something like coyote urine and put it down by the feeders
Tue Feb 16, 2021, 12:13 PM
Feb 2021

I was going to get some to try and deter the groundhogs from devouring my herbs and veg plants (they are experts at finding any weakness in the fence). However, since the ferals appeared, the groundhogs disappeared. And for that I am beyond thankful.

I noticed they scurry under the same bushes, at my neighbor's house, that I once saw the groundhogs using for shelter.

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