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Where We Left Off:
The Winchester-Nabu Detective Agency opened an investigation into the ignorant attempted homicide of a Jersey Devil-Deer named Hanuel.
The Lives of Others:
This time of year, the mundane and magickal creatures are working on their campaigns for selecting new leaders in those populations who do. The animals and magings do things quite differently than humans. This year’s observations and reports from critters have all of us alarmed.
Bunny Rabbits and Wolpertingers Update:
Mayor of Bunny Hollow, Shirley Bunnie Foy, led an exodus of creatures away from the area that was once dense forest around two sides of the Winchester-Nabu estate. Living trees have been bulldozed ever since Lord and Lady Theodore took over. We knew it would impact the animals. It was only a matter of time.
Shirley and her children, Paris and Harlem; Paris’ children, Bunny Wailer and brother Roland “Bernie” Berigan; Silver Blaze and her children, Sylvia Lago and Maud Hare; Bibbo Bibbowski and brother Neville Hare; Murray O’Hare; and Rabbit Maranville.
All of them are gone. Plus, some of the chipmunks have left too, but new babies were born this year and moved in.
The only glimmer of hope we’ve had about the rabbit/wolpertinger population is the regular visiting by two new faces. One is lighter in color with two right ear notches. She has a peculiar pattern that looks like stitches around her face giving her a Frankenstein appearance—not scary to look at it though. She’s beautiful. She has light tan eyeliner and mottled, often patchy, coat.
Rabbit Maranville and Paris showed up for a while. They tried to make it through the summer, but haven’t been seen since earlier in the year. Oliver and Gus believe that they are the parents of the dark eyebrow fella who’s been growing up rapidly since May.
Bird Updates:
Gus, Oliver, The Grumpy Old Man, and I were on the balcony one morning and could hear turkeys in the distance. They weren’t coming closer. They were also headed further away. The last time any were spotted down here was May. The other birds are trying their best. I saw fleeting glances at a Baltimore Oriole. Merlin App has picked up some I haven’t gotten photos of like goldfinches. I try to get photos even if they’re terrible for documentation. I’m to see the Fish Crows visit once in a while. Our top population at this height of summer are: Blue Jays, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Cardinals, Tufted Titmice,  Northern Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Grey Catbirds, American Robins, Red-tailed Hawks, Sparrows, and the always present Turkey Vultures. There are new birds showing up that I’ve seen in the area, but never got to document in our yard–at least not more than once or twice: Pileated Woodpeckers (usually heard and rarely seen), Chimney Swifts, Northern Mockingbirds, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Eastern Towhee, European Starlings, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks, and Wood Thrushes. I’ve spotted an Eastern Kingbird at a distance, I think. I haven’t seen any Scarlet Tanagers this year.
Some birds come for the food, especially the peanuts. Others might be passing by looking for new woods to call home.
Mammal Reproduction:
In some good news since I’m a proponent of embracing the presence of opossums and raccoons and anything that will eat ticks, I check the recent footage from Fort Winchester and saw a raccoon with three babies! We also have a deer mom with three spotted fawns; a doe with two spotted fawns; and a doe with a single fawn.
There is some deer drama that will have to wait for another case, although, maybe it’s related to losing territory. The short version: one bigger doe is known for stalking and attacking the doe mom with the single fawn.
We have seen at least one bear cub, but there isn’t clear evidence to give us exact figures for monitoring.
The foxes have kept their kits hidden if they had any this year. One fox appears to be a skilled hunter and well-fed; while another looks scrawny.
We also haven’t seen bobcat kittens this year, but have seen a couple adults on the cameras enough to know they appear to be healthy.
The Socio-Political Impact:
With the changes in wildlife, the political makeup of neighborhoods (Bunny Hollow, Garter Snake Ridge, the Northern Woods/Forbidden Forest, Gnome Grove, and the Moretti Rock Fortress), have all had to evolve.
There won’t be a Bunny Hollow Election this year. Possibly never again.
Gnomez Addams is still on desk duty undergoing his physical rehabilitation. This leaves Gnome Chomsky in charge of Gnome Grove. The fairies don’t actually answer to anyone in a traditional sense, but they’ve decreased in population also. They’re still happy to help with investigations as reliable informants.
Case Findings:
Oliver and Gus have been more interested than ever to explore outside. Yet, it’s the end of June and the trailcams have recorded temperatures over 100°F. So many of the animals seem to have given up. We’ll try to focus on those who are thriving: snakes/Gorgons; birds; deer/Jersey Devil-Deer; chipmunks; squirrels/squirrelpyres/vampuirrels; bears/volkolaks; and bobcats.
At this point in the human calendar year, we’ve only had the local Primary Elections. There’s some good news in other parts of New Jersey about land being listed as “conserved,” but as we investigated the history of this town and learned it’s in the NJ Highlands Council region. However, our county has not conformed to their master plan at all and our township hasn’t even acknowledged this council despite: “…not currently working with the Highlands Council, it is eligible for grant funding to support township-wide planning initiatives.” There’s supposed to be Open Green Space designations, but agriculture is exempt from that (therefore, deforesting for livestock is permissible!).Â
That’s the state of things. Our “State of the Neighborhood” Address, if you will. Some animals are doing well. Others don’t appear be staying in the area or reproducing at the rates they did.
Case Status: Open Perpetually