Old Fire road

[Timber]

Saturday we had rain and wind like a north east winter storm. Sunday it was just a windy nasty day. Well we got 3 inches of rain the day before so the ground was nice and wet and most of the foliage is off the trees. The fire road out into my wood is so overgrown you can't even walk through it. With a nasty day I decided it was perfect to go work on the fire road. It was an impulse thing so I never took before and during pics but hear are the results



This is looking from the end of the path to my home




This is looking from my home into the woods. This is the main trail and all others will come off this one

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey Timber,

That's an amazing picture. It looks like it could have been taken on my place. I have a trail that's just like it. Steph hates it because she's afraid of the wild hogs, but it's my favorite area. When we go for walks, I always force her to go there. I think she'll get over her fears one of these days if she keeps facing them.

It's a beautiful trail that you have there!!!

Eddie

 

[Timber]

Thank you Eddy, I couldn't believe how quickly I cleared it. It was mostly filled with saplings and a few small trees. I just knocked most of them over and cut back the wild branches with loppers. The 1st 50 to 100 feet were the worst. We have a lot of Coyotes and Deer, I hear we have Bobcats to but I have yet to see them. I also have this very aggressive weesalcat that was thought to be extinct until recently. I have seen only 1 and I forget what it is called but it is suppose to be more aggressive than a Bagger. I am very sure this will allow easier movement of the animals but to be honest they have never had a problem moving around anyway. My dogs will range up there further now though

 

[randy41]

i have one of those too but i think it was a logging road from days long ago.
mine became overgrown but i had a lot of fun clearing it with my saw and bush hog.
its nice to know that there are others out there spending time doing things like this.

 

[Timber]

This place was part of a massive pig farm 75 years ago it has been broken up and subdivided but there are roads through the woods that are all overgrown. This one dead ends up in a neighborhood but off to 1 side is a couple hundred acres of forest. There is evidence of what once was al through the woods

 

[jbrumberg]

Timber:

I believe what you saw is called a fishercat. They are a member of the weasel family and pretty large (for a weasel). I have seen their tracks while snowshoeing in the woods around my house. I finally saw one last year hunting for rodents. I personally believe that they will eat any animal they can catch. If one is in your area you will not have many cats prowling around. They are really secretive, but I do not think they are very common either. Jay

 

[Timber]

Timber:

I believe what you saw is called a fishercat. They are a member of the weasel family and pretty large (for a weasel). I have seen their tracks while snowshoeing in the woods around my house. I finally saw one last year hunting for rodents. I personally believe that they will eat any animal they can catch. If one is in your area you will not have many cats prowling around. They are really secretive, but I do not think they are very common either. Jay

Thank you yes that is what it is called. I saw it early 1 morning when I was out running. It had no fear of me at all and I got pretty close to it before it ran off. I know all my local wildlife and I recognized it for what it was. I haven't seen 1 since

 

[jbrumberg]

Timber:

You probably will not see one for awhile. They are really secretive, by the way they climb trees really well. I believe they are effective "cat killing machines" because they can tree a cat and then continue "game" pursuit. It sounds like you are in a good wildlife habitat area. Jay

 

[Timber]

This is what the little monster looks like. I don't know why some of these critters are resurfacing

 

[MikeD74T]

"This place was part of a massive pig farm 75 years ago it has been broken up and subdivided but there are roads through the woods that are all overgrown. This one dead ends up in a neighborhood but off to 1 side is a couple hundred acres of forest. There is evidence of what once was all through the woods"

I think you ansewred your own question. They appear because of lack of habitat. When people substitute their pets for rabbits, squirrels, etc, the predators just change their dietary habits. MikeD74T