The BackWoods Drifter

These two deer were having a time in the field this morning. They are part of a pretty good size herd that stays close to the house. I woke up one morning and there were 11 of them bedded down within 50 feet of the back of my house. I’m glad they are comfortable here because I like having them around. A cup of coffee, a comfortable back porch, deer playing in the field… it just doesn’t get much better.

The next two photos I have added. When I first noticed the deer this morning they were kind of sneaking up on the tree on the right of the first photo. At the time I wasn’t sure what it was that had their curiosity piqued. Come to find out, there was a Shetland pony just on the other side of the fence. It was no wonder they were curious. I’m sure you don’t see many Shetland ponies in the life of a deer.

With myself knowing it was a Shetland pony the deer were curious of, that made this next photo just a little bit funny. The deer bringing up the rear was the most curious but neither one would get close enough to the pony to see what it was. So as they walked off - their curiosity unsatisfied, the second deer was listening to make sure whatever it was, it wasn’t going to sneak up behind them. I could just picture that little pony come charging through the tall grass after those deer. If that ever happens, I sure hope I have my camera.

The pony was no longer out by the time I thought to get a picture of it, but I’ll get one soon.

Growing up I used to spend a lot of time in the mountains. If hunting season wasn’t in I was hiking or senging (looking for ginseng). I especially enjoyed squirrel hunting. I remember a time all too well where you could judge how well someone has done in the squirrel season by how many squirrel tales were tied to the antennae of their truck.

At any rate I remember this one time a friend came to the house and got me to go hunting with him. I may have been around fourteen or fifteen at the time. We were headed towards a favorite hunting spot when we stopped on the ridgeline to take a breather and just have a look around. If we moved five feet left or right we could see the entire hollows opened up before us. It was the perfect place to watch for squirrels among the leaves on the ground and in the branches of the trees.

We were standing there and we hear something coming down the ridge toward us. You could tell it wasn’t very big because it sounded like it was swimming in the leaves. Both of us were standing there ready to meet whatever was coming head on. It turns out we weren’t prepared because what came into sight was a hilarious vision. Two fox pups were absolutely having the time of their life. The second one close on the heels of the first and nipping at the back of the legs of the first one.

These pups couldn’t have been a year old and still had the puppy look to them. The paid no more attention to us as if we were trees standing there. They did have the sense to dodge us and in just doing so they end up in a slightly bigger red and white ball as they go rolling over the ridge to our left. I thought it was probably the funniest damn thing I had seen to that point in the woods.

My friend and I both were laughing at the antics of the little fox pups as we watch them roll over the edge of the ridge. When we came to our senses both of us rushed to the edge to see the fox in the hollow. They were no where to be seen. It made no sense because we were close to the edge and looking over within seconds of the fox going over. They had apparently vanished. My friend asked me if fox climbed trees. At the time I thought that was a ridiculous idea and laughed in spite of myself. To me a fox climbing a tree would be like Old Blue climbing a tree. For some reason I could picture Old Blue scaling up the side of a hickory tree - that’s a pretty funny picture.

As I got older and thinking about the little fox pups, I tend to think the more likely reason for their apparent disappearing act is because we were in close proximity to the den and just didn’t know it. I would also hear stories later that made the idea of a fox in a tree not so far fetched. But until I see it with my own eyes - I’ll have to leave that one in the doubtful category.

Back then I considered the mountains a place of wonder and mystery. It was a whole other world where the laws of man counted for nothing. Fox pups still played in the woods in the same fashion as they have been since the dawn of time. I enjoyed trips to the mountains just for the solitude because in the mountains you could literally imagine yourself in any time in history. I miss the time when it seemed as if even the animals were more relaxed. Now you can go into huge areas in the mountains and you have no doubt what time you are in. The peace and quiet of the mountains takes on a whole new meaning. In a lot of places one would be lucky to hear a squirrel bark let alone watch two fox pups in careless play together. It is these simple things in life we will regret losing the most. Or, at least, I will.

I hear it all the time - I’ve never seen so many deer and bear in this area.

I wonder what those same people thought would happen when you destroy thousands of acres of natural wildlife habitat. When bears come out of the mountains to eat out of garbage cans and dumpsters then there is a problem somewhere. Of course living in the mountains you would expect the occasional animal run in. But when a bears fear is overcome by its hunger and that bear lives in the mountains - don’t you think it odd he would chance garbage can visits?

I actually walked nearly right up on a bear a couple years ago in Peachtree. She had two cubs with her and she couldn’t wait to leave the area. She actually left the immediate vicinity leaving her cubs behind. I’m sure she didn’t go far but the point is - that is a lot of fear to overcome for no reason. If a bear lives in West Virginia’s backwoods and he comes into populated areas because he is hungry then we have a definite problem.

In the past 10 years the wildlife population in the Bolt Mountain area has grown like never before. Lots of deer and bear. It seems common sense to me these animals are migrating away from the destruction just down river where thousands of acres have been left in ruin. I watched a video not long ago that showed a bear crossing an MTR site and he was at a dead run the entire time. It was pretty obvious he didn’t like the new surroundings as he made for the nearest tree line.

Mountaintop removal affects every living thing in the coalfields from those of us that walk upright all the way down to the cartoon talking bug. I put cartoon talking bug in italics because it is not actually a living thing - even though Walker Machinery would love for us to believe it is.

I’ll be posting the video of the bear as soon as I find it again. The only reason I haven’t posted it before now is because it is of very poor quality but still obviously a bear. The video was taken on Kayford Mountain.

—

Adding - the video I was talking about is from Schumate Branch and not Kayford Mountain. I’m displaying it here smaller than actual size. In order to see the bear you may need to open the video in Youtube.

I told you I was going to get a photo one way or another. This photo was taken by my friend Gabe. He is a co-worker and I thank him for allowing me to use it.

This photo was taken with a cell phone and you can plainly see it is a solid white doe even though the picture is a little fuzzy. This absolutely amazes me. I have spent hours all over the woods in my lifetime and have never ever seen a white deer. I have asked other people since seeing this one and the popular answer seemed to be that people usually see them brown and white with the white areas being very large. News to me though I had no clue such a creature existed.

I’d liked to hear from my outdoor buddies on this one… Has any one else seen a white whitetail deer in the wild?

On another note… I got a surprise weekend off, which is a very cool thing.

.

During the last two trips into Logan county, coworkers have been seeing a white doe about a mile down the road from the job. I have never seen a white deer and have been dying to see this one. I want to get a picture of it in the worst kind of way. A friend got a picture of the doe on his cell phone but was unsuccessful in emailing it to me. One way or another I will have a photo of it next time I come home.

On another note, it has been a long two weeks. I hate that my blog is pretty much just sitting idle but in two more weeks I’ll be blogging from the road. It seems like, when I am away from my cp, I’m constantly seeing something or hearing something that causes me to think ‘that would make a good topic for a post’ but when I’m sitting here in front of the cp with a blank page I can’t think of a single thing to write about. I think, right at the moment, I’m mentally drained. One thing I really like about being an electrician is that you have to use your mind. Can’t do this job brain dead, at least not for very long.

There is no place like home…

.

I’m finally home for 3 days after a 13 day road trip. When I first sat down at my CP I could think of a multitude of topics to blog about and couldn’t really zero in on any one in particular so I may ramble from one to the other.

For those that know about the accident it has been interesting trying to adjust to the loss of a finger. I have found it to be a big handicap these past couple of weeks back at work. There are literally things I do every day that, although I am right hand dominant, still requires an equal amount of the use of my left hand. I’ve always been comfortable working in the vicinity of high voltage but now I feel…. I don’t know how to describe how I feel… it’s not really nervous…. unsure would probably be a good definition. I have to teach my new hand how to work safe. As far as physically, the hand hurts like hell and it was way to soon to return to work.

But anyway… In the past 13 days I have been to a coal prep plant in Logan County, a mountaintop removal site in Boone County and another prep plant right here in Raleigh County. What do you think I’m going to talk about? I can’t help it, I have to talk just a little about mountaintop removal. This is an area of conversation and debate that can usually lead to an argument or disagreement. I don’t care…. I hate mountaintop removal. I love the outdoors, anybody that loves the outdoors should hate mountaintop removal. The problem lies in that no one else can see what they are doing. At least not the general public. As a citizen that does not work for the coal company or have direct business with the coal company then you would almost have as much luck getting access to Area 51. The coal company doesn’t want the general public to see what is going on just over the ridge from the roads the public travels every day. Any debate over mountaintop removal should be held at a mountaintop removal site.

That’s all I have to say about that…. for now.

I guess I’m a little addicted to blogging, I missed being out in the blogging community. We are an interesting bunch to say the least.

I’ve been tagged a couple of times so I’ll be catching up on those…. I promise

It’s good to be home.

I went for another hike in Breckenridge today armed with a camera I didn’t trust to take a good photo. Wouldn’t you know that this would be the day animals were out in abundance. I made a big circle going to the top of one hollow and crossing over two then coming back to where I entered the woods via a lower route. Making my way through the hollows I saw quite a few squirrels, three turkey and one six point. It was so dry in the mountains being quiet was out of the question without standing still.

I entered the woods and came back to the place where I had encountered a deer a few weeks ago. This time I decided to sit on the hillside under a pine for a little while. I was about twenty to thirty yards up the hill watching the bed of the hollow. I had only been sitting there maybe fifteen minutes when this beautiful six point comes in from the direction of the road which was to my right. Being as there are fields on the other side of the road I assumed that is where he came from. If I had had a gun I could have dropped him a dozen times. I may as well have had a gun because even with the camera I still had the feeling. Other hunters will know the feeling I mean.

I’m sitting right in the open wearing a white t-shirt and he didn’t see me. Coming in from my right he gets to where he is almost directly in front of me, scrapes his antlers on a small tree then lays down. I couldn’t believe it. He was that close and I couldn’t see him with my camera. This would never due. I started looking around on the ground where I was sitting. I wanted to throw something down there to spook him and make him stand up again. I found one small rock and threw it to where it landed about ten yards behind him. That didn’t even phase him. I don’t even think he looked in its direction. So I start looking for another rock. Would you believe that I am sitting on the ground in the mountains and can’t find another rock? Finally after digging through the soft topsoil I did find another really small rock but didn’t think that would do it. It turns out he saw me throw this one and stood up. He had seen me that time and was very alert looking in my direction and slowly making his way back in the direction he had originally came from. Instead of going back to the road he turns and actually moves closer to me coming up the hill to my right. I think at this point he is just curious. He knew something was there but he didn’t know what it was.

My hands are shaking as I take a few pictures. He came within fifteen yards of me before he realized I was something to be avoided. He must have caught my scent because he has a snorting fit as he bounds off to the opposing ridge. I see him stop once and look back before he completely leaves the area.

I was excited and apprehensive because I had taken 8 photos with a camera I had trouble with before. And I was excited while taking the photos. I knew there was a good chance the photos would be blurry. Afterwards I came straight home anxious to see if any of the photos turned out good. I was in for a major disappointment. Not one of the deer photos turned out good. So what did I do? I took out the memory card and the batteries and the rest of the camera went in the trash.

You can see the buck in these photos but not well enough to tell what he is.

The photo below is just a little bit before he got as close as he was going to get.

—

For the last couple of days I have been working on my camera trying to get it ready for the trip this coming weekend. I just can’t fathom going to the area around Peachtree Falls and not being able to take photos. On top of that I have been needing to update the Bolt Mountain blog.

At any rate, today while messing around with the camera, my neighbors showed up for a small photo shoot.

This doe and her fawn have been a fixture around my house for a little while now. You can’t tell from the photo but the fawn still has some of its spots. I don’t try to get too close to these deer, not wanting them to get used to my presence. This photo was taken from about 75 yards. Sometimes these two bring their friends with them to the field behind my house. One of them is a very nice six point buck. I’m still waiting for an opportunity to get a picture of him.

You can tell my camera still has issues and I hope to get them lined out before the weekend trip. The next photo was taken looking out into the front yard. I think closer shots and panoramic views will work pretty good for the upcoming camping trip.

A couple of days ago I went for a short hike here on Bolt Mountain. The area I was going hiking was within walking distance of my house. I was walking down a one lane road called Breckenridge trying to decide where to enter the woods. I had just come through a small curve when a doe snorted at me from just inside the tree line. I couldn’t see her but I heard her go bounding off further into the hollow. That made up my mind on where to enter the woods. I was trying to be extra quiet because I knew she didn’t run far.

Once inside the trees, she snorted at me again. This time I got a small glimpse of her as she moves even further into the hollow. She was a big doe and she didn’t like the intrusion. For about twenty to thirty minutes we play a game of catch up. I would cross an invisible line, she would snort to let me know I had gotten too close and off she would go again. Apparently she finally got tired of the game and left the hollow completely. I stayed in the hollow for about the next three hours taking photos and never saw or heard her again.

I have had a few unique experiences with deer in the woods. They are some curious creatures.

.

In talking about West Virginia’s snakes there are two non-venomous varieties that I would like to draw attention to. The first is the Northern Rough Greensnake. For people that are afraid of snakes and are likely to be watching the ground, this snake is more likely to be found in bushes and trees. I have encountered it hanging from branches of trees on a few occasions. They are very hard to spot because obviously their green color allows them to blend in with their background. Besides being a scary sight to those afraid of snakes, this one is harmless.

The other one is the Common Watersnake. I bring this one up because it is often mistaken for the Water Moccasin aka Cottonmouth which is very poisonous but the Cottonmouth is not found in West Virginia. The Watersnake has a bad reputation simply because it is found mostly in the water, but it is also harmless.

The following from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

NORTHERN ROUGH GREENSNAKE (Opheodrys a. aestivus)
This slender greensnake has a white or yellow belly, keeled scales and a tail that comprises one-third of its total length. Rough Greensnakes may attain a length of 45 inches and are usually found in vines, bushes or grass where it feeds on small insects and spiders. They occur at low elevations in the western and central parts of the state but are absent in the mountains where Smooth Greensnakes are found. Up to 14 small, elliptical, cream-colored eggs are deposited in loose earth or under debris. Greensnakes are harmless and docile.

COMMON WATERSNAKE (Nerodia s. sipedon)
On this snake the dorsal color pattern is a series of reddish-brown to black blotches on a background of pale gray to dark brown. The scales are heavily keeled. Their yellow to orange belly is liberally marked with dark crescent-shaped blotches. Watersnakes may exceed 4 feet in length. This is a very common and widely distributed species which is found along small streams, ponds and rivers where it feeds on fish, frogs and other aquatic animal life.

—

There are 22 species of snakes living in the mountains and streams of West Virginia including the two poisonous varieties, the copperhead and the timber rattler.

—