Animals and Pets

[Image description: two ducklings nibble my toes while their siblings look on to see if I'm scary or not]

The toe nibbling is a nightly affair with their mother, Shadé, but tonight marked the first time the kids have joined in. I find that this life stage is the easiest to get them comfortable with hands, and even managed to give some chest scritches and back pets while some were nibbling on my fingers.

[Image description: a toad, sitting upright, in a small nursery pot, is shaded from the midday sun by the leaves of a young echinacea]

I kept finding a dug-out section in this one particular pot, with all of the potting mulch pushed to one side. At least they're vigilant

[image description: in the background, two groups of ducklings lay normally while sunning themselves on a black driveway. In the foreground is one duckling laying on its back with legs outstretched, while gently lifting its head to watch me take its picture]

I swear, there's always one odd duck in a clutch. The laying on the back is a new twist though.

[Image description: a picture of a bumblebee drinking nectar from a purple bee balm flower. The venation of the wings is clearly visible.

[Image description: a dozen muscovy ducklings form an interlocking mass of bodies and bills during a nap pile on a bit of driveway. In the foreground, their mother keeps a watchful eye on the sky]

A few of them took an opportunity to investigate me but were still a little hand-shy. In another week or two they will be trying to bully me.

There are ways to make the Fourth of July safer for pets, wildlife and farm animals.

[Image description: a top down photo of thirteen muscovy ducklings standing in a block, with one duckling off to the side. Each duckling has a different color pattern, with shades of yellow, brown, and grey showing]

I've never had a clutch of ducklings line up so nicely before

[Image description: fourteen muscovy ducklings, each a mix of yellow and brown fluff, rest in the grass under the watchful gaze of their mother]

[Image description: a blue merle Australian shepherd looks to the left of the camera with wide eyes and perked ears. The background is a black, orange, and red hexagon blanket and blue curtains]

[Image description: A blue merle Australian shepherd lounges on the grass in the shade next to a rhubarb leaf that is the same size as him]

[Image description: A mother duck followed by six ducklings, on a river, with a dense forest in the background. The water has a rather natural greenish color and the sun shines directly on the scenery. The swimming direction of the ducks is from left to right past the camera.]

A picture I took when I was on a hike with my dogs. Sadly I couldn't get a better one because the were near the middle of the river.

Originally uploaded it to my Pixelfed account.

[Image description: our nine month old gets to feel a pig's back while I hold her over the pen wall]

The town library hosted a meet-the-animals event with a vet tech explaining how to recognize and respect animals' interaction thresholds. The bunnies and chickens were old news for Juniper, but the pigs were fascinating after some early skepticism.

We aren't sure about his age, but the vet estimates that he is between 3 and 5 years old.

He was used as a breeding stud at a puppy mill, then dumped at the rescue when they were done with him.

He has some anxiety and other neurosis, so he fits right in with the rest of the family.

My boy is going to be 3 years old this July.

[Image description: a milksnake looks at the camera during courtship]