Our resident wildlife are having to
work hard to survive this severe winter. The depth of the snow
hampers their movements. The crusts on the surface of the snow are
just additional trials. Ice makes movement difficult for them as
much as it does for us. Finding food that is buried beneath a couple
of feet of snow is next to impossible.
The
deer and turkeys around here are sharing the snacks that have poked
up through the snow on our south facing slopes. There are trails
over the snow covered hills that are regularly used by deer.
Sometimes those trails lead right into the farmer's hay barns where
the critters have a light repast on their journey through, or else
spend the night. Rabbit tracks abound, but they look much different
than those of the deer.
Coyotes
and cougars are on the prowl in this winter weather. A young cougar,
bounding down a slope through the deep snow, and out into the
highway, was hit by an unsuspecting vehicle. The animal was wounded
and lay by the side of the road, not happy to be observed by cars
passing by. Fish and Game had been notified and soon took care of
the situation. A cougar kitten holed up in one of our barns for
protection from the elements, but without food starvation overtook
it.
Josie and David Hulme and their
children spent some time at the home of Wynn and Cecelie Costley,
reliving Josie's childhood fun. The Hulmes live in North Ogden, UT.
They brought a family of friends up with them. Leah Gilbert and her
four youngsters came up from Fairview, ID, to put in some good
grandparent time with Wynn and Cecelie a few days later.
Dana and Charlie Petersen and their
four children motored from Kuna, ID to visit with her parents, Jimmie
and AnnaBeth Olson. There is always fun to be had at their home on
Station Creek. Most likely they were measuring the depth of the snow
in Station Creek compared to that in the Boise area.
Trying to keep up with the results of
our continuing winter weather has caused some problems for several
residents. In efforts to clear the heavy wet snow from the roofs of
buildings people have slipped off or fallen. The last report totaled
seven individuals with bruises, only two that ended up needing a
trip to the doctor's office. Softer snow makes for an easier landing
than does concrete or getting tangled up in the ladder in the sudden
descent. Bracken Atkinson wrenched a shoulder that will take some
extra care. Jeff Olson ended up with a week's stay at Eastern Idaho
Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, with several surgeries to
patch him back together. We are happy to have him back in Preston,
closer to home.
It must be boring reading, informing
readers that we are getting snow, and more snow, and then some more.
Right now that is our life. Mink Creek news equals snowstorms.
Eight to ten inches yesterday, and it snowed all day. Another 8-10
this morning. Add that to the settled snow that measures about 2 ft
----well,it is a lot of shoveling. We get stuck in our own driveways,
either going out or coming back, possibly both. The ice that covers
our sloping terrain is yet another challenge. We haven't had a
winter like this in a very, very long time. It is getting to the
point where we have to remind ourselves that we really do need it and
that this moisture is rejuvenating to the land we love so much.
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