By S. J. Brown
As I pondered the possible subjects for this month’s blog I toyed with a variety of subjects. I always want my blogs to be interesting, educational and thought provoking. So I thought I would share some animal info with everyone.
Did you know that when a black bear is nervous it will sway from side to side? This swaying motion makes it difficult for me to focus and get a clear image of a bear. The solution on most occasions is to back up just a step or two and let the bear relax before I click the shutter button.
Did you know Red Knots (that’s a bird folks) fly over 9,000 miles every spring? They fly into the Delaware Bay area each year in May to feed on horseshoe crab eggs. Nearly 90 percent of the Red Knot population can be seen in a single day along the beaches of Delaware. Sorry I don’t have a decent picture of them to share. Most migratory birds are very nervous when passing through an area. That makes them difficult to photograph.
Did you know that planting trees just after it rains is hard work? I know this because I in the last two weeks I have helped plant over 100 trees. The mud sticks to your feet, and hands, and makes everyone a muddy mess. While we are on the subject of trees, did you know the practice of loosening up the roots on plants and trees before planting them is called tickling the roots?
Did you know a Snapper Turtles jaw is so powerful it can bite off a human finger? Snapper Turtles have no natural predators except humans so this is a skill that could come in handy. This knowledge combined with the fact that full grown male Snapper Turtles can weigh as much as 220 pounds should deter you from picking one up.
Did you know most animals will warn you before they attack? An alligator will make a growling sound. White tailed deer will stomp their foot or snort. The exception to this rule is mothers with babies.
Yes, I know most of these facts the average person will never need to know. However, as the human population continues to grow more and more people are encountering wild animals that are simply trying to survive.
Here are some facts that may come in handy. Most animals have a food preference. Deer love hostas, also known as deer candy, but they tend to stay away from plants with a strong aroma.
Did you know that mockingbird that keeps attacking your car mirror or window most likely thinks it is another mockingbird in its territory. All you have to do eliminate the reflection by placing a towel, shirt or cardboard over it.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed learning about animals.
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Writing Wranglers and Warriors 
I am always up for learning something new and this post was informative. Thank you, I enjoyed reading and learning a few new things. We are never to old to learn. :o)
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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This is a fascinating post, S.J. I learned several things I didn’t know. Thank you for taking the time to assemble these facts and share them with us. I loved it!
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This post was sparked by a question at my latest book signing. I really didn’t have to assemble the facts. This is just the kind of stuff I know. .
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I was always told to plant marigolds around the border of my garden to discourage deer. Is that why? By the way, it doesn’t work.
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It works better with rabbits, but yes that is why.
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Interesting column. Talking about birds attacking car mirrors… back in the 1990s, there was a bird at the county library that would always swoop down at me as if she intended to attack. Thought there must be a nest nearby she was protecting. As a teenager, I would watch birds do swooping attacks on our cat as he walked in the back yard.
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Mockingbirds are notorious for doing that to both people and other critters.
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I didn’t know any of this, S.J., except for the part about planting trees after a rain, because I know digging in mud is difficult, not because I’ve planted 100 trees. I’ve planted a few rosebushes but always did it under more favorable circumstances. It occurs to me that I probably do the same thing the bear does when I’m nervous. I’ll watch for that. Thanks for the post.
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I wear rubber boots when we do tree plantings, unfortunately the mud tends to stick to them, yes I got taller as the day went on.
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Fun facts SJ. Fascinating about the Red Knots and horseshoe crab eggs. What do they eat the rest of the year?
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I’m not sure what they eat the rest of the time, but for generations they have timed their trip to co ordinate with food sources along their route. I only know what they eat in Delaware because it is their closest stop to me.
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I always enjoy learning facts I would not normally need. Information is never really wasted. Add the great photos and you have a post that not only pleases the brain, but the eye. Thank you. Doris
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Most people don’t need to know many of the things I know, but find them interesting anyway. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Thank you for sharing some interesting bits of information about animals I didn’t know.
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Your Welcome. I love sharing.
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Did you know that I’ve learned a good few new things today, SJ? Sorry – I couldn’t resist that repetition since it’s a good phrase, but as a non- U.S. dweller i learn quite a lot of wildlife things from your photography all the time. You’ve just topped up even more. BTW- planting trees in any weather is pretty hard work!
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When we have 50 or 60 trees to put in we cheat and have a volunteer with a tractor do the holes for us. Each hole needs to be customized to the tree that is going in it. But it sure saves a lot of back breaking work.
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Some interesting facts and beautiful photos. Mud does get very heavy. Cher’ley
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Glad you enjoyed the photos. Mud also tends to get everywhere.
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I enjoyed this post very much. I always love learning facts about animals. The fact about the mockingbird reminds me of a wild turkey I saw up in Big Sur once. It was strutting back and forth behind a pickup truck. I realized the turkey was looking at the back bumper. I figured it believed it was another turkey and wondered if it was mating season. I went inside a lodge and when I came out, it was pecking the bumper, denting it!
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Male critters can be very territorial especially during mating season. Turkey in particular can be very aggressive. Thanks for stopping by.
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Very informative post, S.J.! I’ve never heard of Red Knots, so that interested me greatly (I so enjoy learning about animals I don’t know about!) I was especially interested in learning the 90% fact — scary in some ways because if some type of disaster happened while they all congregated there, the majority would be decimated: all the more reason for us people to take better care of the planet! Thanks so much for the educational post, S.J.!
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Red Knots like monarch butterflies put themselves in harms way every time they gather together. The Red Knots are celebrities in Delaware. There are bird enthusiast that come from all over for a chance to see them. But timing is everything with them. They may only be in that location one day out of the year. So you have to be on that special beach on that day to see them.
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