Red Fox

So, I recently spotted my first fox at the farm (or, actually, near the farm, just down the road). I hear there have been a few other sightings, which I find very exciting. Foxes are very shy around here and thus, rarely seen. Knowing they are here is a bit like knowing there are fairies in the woods... I may never see them, but knowing they are there tells me there's always a bit of magic in these woods.

A next goal: Getting a photo of our shy red friends...

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Squirrel, a photo by paynehollow on Flickr.

North American's ubiquitous comic acrobat, loved by one and all (except for folk with bird feeders...)

Black Rat Snake

Black Rat Snake, a photo by paynehollow on Flickr.

A funny thing to do is, if you're out hiking and your friend gets bitten by a poisonous snake, tell him you're going to go for help, then go about ten feet and pretend that *you* got bit by a snake.

Then start an argument with him about who's going to go get help. A lot of guys will start crying. That's why it makes you feel good when you tell them it was just a joke.

~Jack Handey

For the record, black rat snakes are not poisonous, they're "good snakes" and help keep rodents away...

Northern Fence Lizard

Northern Fence Lizard, a photo by paynehollow on Flickr.

You've got to get out and pray to the sky to appreciate the sunshine; otherwise you're just a lizard standing there with the sun shining on you.

Ken Kesey

Fowlers Toad

Fowlers Toad
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

Found this fella while cutting grass one day in the big field. Not the safest place to hang out. I had to convince him to move on some place safer.

I think this is a "Fowlers Toad," but could be mistaken.

Big Toad

Big Toad
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

I'm just sort of ballparking here that this might be either an American Toad or a Fowlers Toad.

I was looking here to try to sort it out.

Any help? Thoughts?

Raccoon

Raccoon 2
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

I more often have seen their little hand-shaped tracks in the mud down by the pond or creek than I have actually spotted these bandits at the farm, but they are there. They're probably easiest to spot early in the morning or at night.

The one in this photo was scrambling up a tree off the ridge path as I took an early morning hike.