FML Outdoors.com

“When Porcupines Attack!”

The day before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I went grouse hunting
at Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area. Towards the end of the day,
my dog Abby confronted a large porcupine. Unfortunately, we spent
the rest of the afternoon at the Vet, while the doctor use a scalpel
to remove quills buried deep under the skin.

Mille Lacs County, MN

Question: Do you have faith our environment issues will get better?
Do you wonder what each of us can do to make it so?

We can do things in right our own backyard. Flowers alone can attract many species of butterflies and the seeds provide food for many birds like sparrows.

A few good examples are sunflowers, daisies, black-eyed susans and marigolds.
(I let the seeds spread for the next year).

Timothy grass and Toro blueberries grow well as a hedge and have the most berries, Bluecrop blueberries grow easily as well and fast in the north.
Bushes are a favorite of many birds. If you have the room, Sugar Maples and Cherry trees are favorites.

Poplar trees are one of the fastest growing trees, as well as red Maples.
The Lombardy poplar or Willow Hybrid provide quick privacy
for the smaller yard.

The best time to plant is spring or early fall. Keep the garden area
away from the wildlife areas. Look for nice corners or areas where
the bushes will provide good cover for the animals you want to
invite, like doves, ducks, and ask yourself if squirrels, rabbits and
other more pesky animals will be welcomed. You can control wildlife
areas by getting bird feeders that are squirrel-proof and keeping
bird feeders close to wildlife area, up and away from dogs and cats.
A butterfly feeder should also be carefully placed.

• Have pets? Birds are more tempted to be near dogs, they seldom see
  a cat-dog together and feel safer.

• Milk-weed is the only thing a Monarch caterpillar will eat.
  Milkweed will spread each year, so allow them some growing space.

• How to attract Monarch butterfies.
  For information on Butterfly feeders, Click here.

• If you have a larger yard, Click here for more information on wildlife plots for deer

We had a bumper-crop of apples this year! We have two apple trees in our backyard (Haralson and Fireside). My daughter Madeline and friend enjoyed picking and pressing apples into cider. Afterwards, we boiled the cider with cinnamon sticks and cloves. I just love being outside — smelling the fall air, watching geese fly overhead and tickling the taste buds with homemade
apple cider!