Our Baby Fawn

Remember our pregnant doe outside our living room window? (See June 22, 2025) She came around today to show off her baby. This picture was taken outside our dining room window. I can't believe how fast they grow. Of course, I have no idea if this is the same doe, but I would like to think so. We have a big valley below our house and wildlife hang out there a lot. It is probably because there are very few dogs in the houses around here. I know my kitties love to watch the wildlife go by.

This is my view

 

I live in the foothills of the Rockies and it is truly a wonderful place to live. This is the view from my dining room window. I took it a couple of weeks ago while the fall colors were in full bloom. It was a cool foggy morning which highlights the mountains in the background. Also, notice the deer on the ground in front of the red tree. 

This is my favorite tree in the neighborhood. For only a week or so in the fall, it turns bright, bright red. It sounds the end of summer, which is fine with me. 

It's Fawn Season

 One of the best parts of living in a mountain community is sharing it with the wildlife. This mama and her twins are stopped among the trees. I understand that there is also a set of triplets here in Roxborough Park as well. 

The Wild Turkey Visit -- not the kind you drink

Here is the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, we have wild turkeys. They often hang out at our house because we don't have dogs. (No one is barking at them).

We have curious kitties trying to figure out what these big birdies are. Wookie and Omi will chatter at birds in the bird feeder, but they seem oddly silent while watching this gigantic sparrows. 

Wookie decides to keep quiet and just watch.

Turkeys will often perch in the trees. This is right outside our deck. 

(In fact, it is taken from inside the house.

By the way, a group of wild turkeys is called a rafter.

Omi is watching very carefully.

I am in my kitchen taking this from the window.

This turkey is about 10 feet from me.

Also, turkeys can fly, but only for short distances, 

usually just to get into a tree.

We counted 15 birds in this rafter of turkeys.

Oh Deer!

 

I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains just south of Denver. Just below the large window in our living room is a valley where no one can ever build. My husband is an architect/builder, so it is a beautiful, modern house taking full advantage of the view. But one of the best parts is we are surrounded by wildlife. 

There isn't a day that goes by when we don't see deer. Since we don't have a dog (only cats), the deer hang out in our yard all year. 

They will even come up to the front door to greet us.

But I never get tired of my valley.

Our Foothills Home and Wildlife Need Protection -- from our Panther

We lived in a beautiful community just south of Denver in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The hills you see in the picture above are out our east kitchen windows. Our property backs up to the Pike National Forest so I can always say it is part of our backyard. As you imagine, we have lots and lots of wildlife in our yard and we want to preserve our wildlife habitat while we live in the center of it.

Therefore, we have to be careful not to let our little black kitty Neko out. He would show no mercy to the wildlife! He has been cited by the Wildlife Habitat and Territory (WHAT!) society as being a danger to the environment and wildlife surrounding our home. Neko knows no fear and will defend his home against any and all alien wildlife creatures, including humans and the following critters we have found in our yard:

We have bears, ...

Mama bear and her two cubs

This is how close the bears are; that black spot just over
Ken's shoulder

... and lots and lots of deer:

Our front yard ...

... at the front door ...

... the back deck ...

... grove next to our back deck ...

... tasting the seeds from the bird feeders ...

... even trusting us with their newborns.

We have foxes ...

... and wild turkeys ...

... lots and lots of birds ...

... and yes, mountains lions.

Just outside our garage door

Yes, that mountain lion is just outside the window 

on the south of our house!

Nothing like looking out your window at the mountain lion and then she turns and stares at you!

We also have raccoons, porcupines, and coyotes. I didn't get pictures of the skunks. You can imagine why.

I Shot the Turkeys

Passing through our yard, I got a chance to capture the wild turkey rafter (yes, a group of turkeys is called a 'rafter') and I shot them all.  I used a camera, but you get my drift.

Escaping by way of the cul-de-sac

In our rock garden

Yes, they hang out in trees ...

... just so Neko can watch them.

Where have all the turkeys gone?

The rafter of turkeys came by our house again this week. However, instead of 19 turkeys, they were down to 12.  I have a feeling that some of turkeys have been make into dinner plans for other local wildlife.  I am highly suspicious of that fox in our yard wearing a pilgrim hat.

Have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving day.

Neko and the Turkeys

We enjoy the turkeys; Neko is saying "Dinner!"

One of the wonderful things about living the foothills of the Rockies is the wildlife that visits us.  This morning we were visited by a rafter (yes, a group of turkeys is called a 'rafter') of wild turkeys. They roost in our Russian olive trees while Neko keeps an eye on them. They "roost" in Roxborough so they won't "roast" in the oven.

The animal on the right in the tree is actually a squirrel.

"TWAS" - The Wild Animal Sanctuary

"TWAS" is this incredible wild predator reserve for lions and tigers and bears (yeah, I know) and wolves and leopards that is just north of the Denver area.  I have supported this place for the past several years, but this was my first visit. I went with my husband Ken, my youngest son Dane and his girlfriend Christina. What a wonderful place! I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs describing it, but you can just go to the website http://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/ for information and donating.

High Five!

We strolled through the sanctuary on an elevated walkway peering down on the animals. The theory is that the animals don't pay any attention to us because they think of us in the same way they think of birds. It was the heat of the day, so most of the animals were sleeping. Unfortunately, it made most of the animals look like they were either fake or dead. I think even Neko might not be able to take on some of these guys.

The only safe way to pet a lion