Spring Wildlife in Anoka County Comes in all Shapes and Sizes!

Though this morning started out below zero, next week's forecast says SPRING! 

Yup, the weather men and women are predicting temps in the forty's and maybe even fifties! Green grass and budding flowers will not be far behind.

Every spring seems to bring some new critter to our Ham Lake backyard.  We live on small acreage near Coon Lake so animals are always wandering around our neighborhood. One year it was a newborn fawn and another year there was an opossum hanging on a tree.  We often have rafter of wild turkeys wandering through the backyard (yes, rafter IS the technically name for group of turkeys). And there was that momma bear with her cubs that got into our in the bird feeder a few years back. 
Whatever our spring adventure will hold, bring it on! I for one will be glad to say goodbye to the snow and cold for another year.
If you are looking for a home on acreage in Anoka, Chisago or Washington County (or even if you prefer a smaller backyard), I'd love to help! Click here to request a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide.

READY TO MAKE A MOVE? Let me be your professional guide. If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of Boardman Realty, a call or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District. Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2015 www.terieckholm.com

Wildlife in Ham Lake—Is a Possum Possible this far North? You betcha!

They say you cannot pick your neighbors but this one picked us. A few weeks ago as our family returned and stomped into our Ham Lake house in our usually way, my youngest son noticed a ball of fur sneaking out from under our cedar steps. The animal cautiously moved along the cement block of our basement wall; away from the noise of the groceries being brought in. We had an opossum living under our porch!

Living on acreage in Anoka County, we have seen our share of wildlife. We see deer almost nightly and have had raccoons in the trash. An assortment of squirrels, black, red, white and gray, play in the trees. Though we rarely spot them, we are aware that an occasional skunk will wander through the property. Our sandy soil is perfect for painted turtles come up from Coon Lake and lay eggs in the grass. There was the spring a few years back when the neighbor came over to let us know that a bear had been on their deck. And last fall we had a turkey knocking on the window to get in!

My experience with opossums was limited to Disney’s, A Goofy Movie, when Goofy and Max visited Lester’s Possum Park while on vacation. This guy didn’t have little x’s for eyes but did have the long ratlike tail! I had to read about them in the Opossum Wiki to see if it was some kind of threat or if it would swing from it’s tail and drop down on me. (It won’t thank goodness!)

The opossum hid himself under our front porch before I could get my camera out that day but this past weekend he was out in the yard again. I ran and got my camera. It took about fifteen minutes before I found him “playing possum” behind one of our giant oaks.

Don't play possum in your real estate transactions! If you are considering buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota acreage and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/