An Echidnas and two fox cubs.

We were back at Mum’s today and after lunch I took the dogs (George & Charlie) for a walk along near the creek bank in what passes for shade as it was over 33Celsius. (I don’t remember what that is in Fahrenheit. You can look it up if you like!) We didn’t chase anything! Well I most certainly didn’t. It was way too hot for that! However we did disturb a couple of Fox Cubs and I did discover another Echidna, about 200 Metres away from the house. As this one was much bigger than last weeks, I think I am safe to say that it didn’t grow that much in one week, thus is definitely a different one.

Because we are still in the grip of a long drought, these animals and others, like Kangaroos and Wombats, which you would normally only see rarely in the evenings or early mornings, are having to travel further and further out in to the open to find food and so, often rest/hide in the bushes during daylight and the heat of the day, rather than returning to their normal places of abode. That is why we are seeing more and more during daylight hours now.

With both these discoveries today, I would not have noticed them if they had not moved and given themselves away, as in both cases I wasn’t even within 60 feet of them before they moved. And in both cases I was on the other side of the creek!

Actually it was only I who saw the animals. Charlie didn’t hear or notice them at all and George only heard then, but not seeing them didn’t bother looking any further. His interests were elsewhere.

In a previous article about Rainbow Lorikeets I remarked about how much we often miss because we are not looking properly, but today I wish to discuss what happens when we, like George, don’t follow up on those things that we hear but don’t see immediately and walk away from, without properly investigating.

As there are no longer any poultry at the farm, or nearby, the presence of foxes nearby now is not a concern, but if anyone nearby did have poultry then it would be a big problem and steps would have to be taken to strengthen and protect the defences of the poultry.

What about you? Are you hearing strange noises or seeing strange movements, but not investigating properly? These strange things that come to your attention, need to be checked out immediately, even if it is just to find out they are harmless. Because if they are not harmless and you don’t report them, great harm can be caused before someone else checks them out. What say you? Walter