Rat tracks coming out of a gap from our basement, sidles past the trunk of a locust and off into the yard. Going foraging in the tall weeds, I suppose, and then coming home..... Um.......
Did NOT make it home. Bushwhacked in the dark of night.
A swoop from behind (tail and feet touch snow) and a couple flapping hops...
A large feathered wing brushed here while Mr (or Mrs.) Owl mantled the catch and made sure he wasn't just merely dead, but really most sincerely dead.
Then he/she seems to have turned and hopped to the side and organized the catch for transit? Or just swallowed it mostly whole? There were just a few drops of blood and no fur so it either went down the hatch intact or was taken elsewhere.
At first I thought the owl had been sitting on top of the bobbed trunk of the locust tree but judging from the angle it flew in from I'm guessing he/she hunted from the top of the electric pole by the road instead. Still, I'm glad we left as much tree as we did since it also does make a good perch.
Thank you, good owl of the north, for ridding us of a basement rat!
Wowzers! Magnificent snow tracking!
ReplyDeleteEEEK! At least you know where the varmint was getting in. However, they usually have family about. Anyway to setup a 'door flap' to allow them to get OUT and not in? They do something similar with bats & squirrels that get into attics. Some sort of drape/curtain is attached to the entrance so they can get out, but doesn't allow easy entry back into the house.
ReplyDeleteNow that the owl knows where to hunt, that should help too.
M inNC
Owl wing tracks! Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the owl!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a catch...and find for you. Good pictures!
ReplyDeleteOwls are good for lots of things. Even just to look at.
ReplyDeleteLove the tracks. Very interesting
ReplyDeleteWow!!Interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us.
Thank YOU for a fantastic series of photos.
ReplyDeleteOwls are so amazing...super photos!
ReplyDelete