Today in Nature: Deer in Toronto

A White-Tailed Deer near the Humber River in Toronto

Deer can still be found in Toronto, and today I got more proof. I had been walking around a march near the Humber River, north of the Queensway, when I walked up to a meadow on my way back to my bike. But as I looked up, there was a pair of eyes looking at me. I tried to stay as still as I could while still taking pictures. I thought it had been a great day already, having seen a Great Egret in a tree, and a raccoon trying to have a nap. But the deer was definitely the prize of the day. It is awesome that these lovely creatures can still find places to live in a crowded city.

A drowsy raccoon

A Great Egret perching in a tree high above a pond.

This day in nature: Where do Raccoons sleep?

September 16th: I spotted this ball of fur high in a tree today. It is a sleeping raccoon, and since it is alone, it is probably a male. Raccoons have matrilineal societies - mothers sleep with their young, as well as their grown daughtersfrom previous breeding years ( and their young). Males, on the other hand, sleep alone once they are adults, and shift spots every few days. So if you have raccoons in your garage, they may be different ones every few days. Raccoons like to move around, even the mothers and their young.

for more information on raccoons, please visit our website at http://www.torontonature.com/raccoonsinthecity.php