Thursday, April 23, 2009

Outside My Window

Sitting and looking out my living room window I never fail to be amazed by the wildlife I see. Besides the birds at the feeders there are black squirrels, red squirrels, fox squirrels, deer, rabbits, woodchucks, chipmunks, opossums, and the other night a gray fox.

What makes this so amazing is the fact that I live in a subdivision of a small mid Michigan college town. I grew up in the hill country of the state in a very rural setting. A place with lots of woods, lakes, and wide open country yet I can not remember there being the amount or the verity of wild life that I have now.

It would seem that the numbers and types of animals living in the state are increasing. This could be because the habitat they need is increasing. Many small farms are no longer being used and there wood lots are becoming overgrown, perfect homes for deer, bear, and small game. That and the increasing number of homes springing up and turning open land into private property where no one hunts could be behind this increase in wildlife.

All I know is that looking out my window has become a truly enjoyable pastime that I hope to be able to continue for years to come.