This week is the peak of the white-tailed deer breeding season, known as "the rut." Fueled by excess testosterone, bucks will be in hot pursuit of does coming into estrous. The fervor to breed and to pass along their genetics can lead to fierce battles between bucks, sometimes leading to serious injury or death. After the rut ends, bucks retreat to quiet locations to rest and rebuild their energy reserves, having lost up to 15 percent of their body weight.
Striped skunks and raccoons, fat from the bounty of autumn foods, are settling into their winter dens. On warmer days during the winter they may wake and wander around hoping to find some food, including leftover grain or carrion.
(Submitted by Ed Robinson, November 13, 2019; Photo by Craig Snapp)