This time of year we start to get ready for water. Water on our farm is transported through culverts, ditches, underground transport pipes, and gated pipe.
These same pieces of transportation for water are also really good homes for critters: fox, skunk, feral cats, and feral dogs from the rigors of winter. The problem of making these things their homes is instant death as soon as the water is turned in.
Therefore, we like to check all everywhere making sure there is nothing living there.
Getting them out of their burrow (the water transportation unit) can sometimes be a real problem, especially if we are talking about skunks.
But this year we are safe (so far).
Skunks are mating right now, and will be looking for a nice warm nest, but water is just a few weeks off and if we cover the ends they will move on to dens in the ground.
The coyotes have dens on the hills on our place, but I’m not brave enough to go poking my head where they are. I have been thinking I might, MIGHT, go to where they live and see if I could get any baby pictures, but I haven’t worked up enough courage.
Life on a Colorado Farm 
Have you heard how the coyotes in the Denver area are coming into neighborhoods. One bite a lady walking her dog. Crazy.
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So take a 30/30 and a friend and get some baby pics!!! PLEASE!!!!!!
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You are kind to make sure all of the wildlife is out of the culverts and drains before you use them!
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OOoh…skunks. We have them in my neighborhood every summer, they go for my garbage cans right next to my bedroom window-yuck the smell. Stay safe.
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LOL our water is still pretty darn solid yet 🙂 Have fun ferreting out the critters.
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That is so considerate of you to check for the critters before the big water comes. So nice. Be careful going out there to photograph the little coyotes!! But I’m sure they would be adorable to see!
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I wouldn’t worry about the skunks..but that is just me.. I can’t see that they have a purpose other than to make my life miserable:(
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Wow, I forgot about your needing to take care of these kind of chores-but be careful with the coyotes-there have been lots of attacks on people in Boulder and aggressiveness in towns with them. Plus if there are babies around it could be dangerous…so take a long stick or better yet your hubby. Enjoy the nice spring type days.
Hugs.
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Interesting photos. We are in such a different season from you and it’s hard to believe you are getting ready for spring.
I’m not too fond of skunks because of the rabies problem but so far I haven’t seen any either. Be careful if you do go looking for the baby coyotes.
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That is so nice that you make sure the wildlife is safe from drowning like that. I just posted about the coyotes on my farm. I thought I heard pups, but I thought it was a bit too early for them yet. Didn’t find any pups but did find some dens. I think they are coyote dens because they were in the area where they are very active vocally and I also found some grey hair on a barbed wire fence and a track. Not sure the track is coyote, but looks like it could be.
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You are very kind to make sure the skunks are safely out of the way of the water before use!
Pictures of coyote babies would be too cool, but only if you promised not to get bit in the process! Those little suckers can be mean.
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Spring is trying to come to my neck of the woods. Be careful if you try to get that pic.
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