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

 

[jbrumberg]

MikeD74T:

I agree about human encursion into wild habitat. My area is sparsely developed. The few neighbors I have are trying to purchase abutting property to prevent development. Some animals adjust to development (like that fishercat, but look at it trying to eat suet ); and some migrate to less developed areas that are rapidly disappearing. It has been years since I have seen an ovenbird or heard a whip-poor-will. I am starting to see bluebirds again ! One of my "goals" is to try and preserve the natural environment at least on my property. Jay

 

[jbrumberg]

Timber:

I am under the belief that you are very health conscious, but you let that poor fishercat eat suet ? I would not recommend trying to take even unhealthy foods from that weasel . Jay

 

[3RRL]

Timber,
Those are very nice pictures of your fire road and the Fisher too. Watch out for them, they can bite. Your property looks very cool. You saw my thread on Pushing in Roads and Trails and I bet you are having as much fun as I am. Only difference I see (besides the landscape terrain) is you are already having wet conditions and mine are still dry as a bone. Still no rain for us out here. I hope it wasn't too nasty when you were doing all that work?

 

[ehchvac]

saw one once drag a chicken thru a hole in a fence.
that was in marlboro, ma.

Fisher Wild Things Unlimited Rare Carnivores

 

[Timber]

I didn't take those Pictures, they are off the net. I have only seen 1 and that was on the street when I was running. I have no raccoon’s skunks or possums around though and that is odd. I do have a really big Bunny that seems to avoid becoming someone’s meal.

Rob you are correct I love any reason to play on my tractor. I have so much to do and no time LOL. It is very wet hear all the time. That is why my place is so green. The down side is the biting bugs in the summer but I have plans for them as well. My situation is almost the opposite as yours. Every time I see fires out there I think of you.

I put horses off till spring because I really am not ready for them yet. I have just about run out of season hear. The ground will start to freeze in the next month and that will end most of my digging. I have 1 more grass cut to do and then I will convert my lawn tractor over to a snow thrower. As soon as the pool guys are done this year I have to put all my markers out and T post off the pool. Depending on are snow fall this year the Kubota will stay inside except for forklift work hauling fire wood. I need to pick up some heat for my fuel mix too now that I think of it