my local patch and wildlife - Ian McDonald

[ian mcdonald]

Young hedgehog rescued from the street and put in my back garden.



Roe Deer hiding among trees.



Bridge in the hills.





Badgers latrine.

[Robert]

Hi Ian,

I enjoyed your set of photographs and your interesting discussion. Today, 20 September, I decided to look at the 12Z 500 mb map of Europe. Currently there is a huge high-pressure dome centered over Southern Sweden, 58 N – 14 E, that extends from Northern Scotland through Belarus to western Russia. Scotland is on the backside of this high-pressure system. Are you still having warm dry weather? Also, is it safe to pick up a hedgehog? Is rabies an issue? In general, I would never handle a wild or feral mammal due to the rabies issue here in the U.S.A. Maybe things are different in Europe? I just do not know.

[ian mcdonald]

Hello Robert, the warm, dry weather is still with us so far. I have not heard of a problem with rabies and wildlife here. Last night the moon was full, known at this time of year as a harvest moon.

[Vinny 123]

The only mammals in the UK that carry rabies are bats - and you need a license to handle them. People with a license have vaccinations, just in case.

The last case of rabies in any other wild animal was over 100 years ago.

Within continental Europe, rabies is rare or officially eradicated in most countries.

[Robert]

Ian,

Your photographs of the harvest moon are awesome! 



Here in Sacramento, the fruit of Cucumis sativus is ripening now. I thought the fruit of this variety is quite interesting, maybe not as dramatic as your harvest moon photographs, but interesting to me. Or maybe only a farmer would see beauty in a ripening seed crop?

Ian, thank you once again for sharing such dramatic photographs.   

[Jeffnz]

Hi Robert
What cucumber variety is it, most that i have grown are either green or white skinned or have I missed something?

[Robert]

Hi Jeff,

Pictured is the mature fruit of Miniature White cucumber. The cucumber fruit we eat is actually immature. The fruit pictured is part of a seed crop – in this case control hand pollenated plants consisting of many plants possessing the characteristics that I wish to maintain in this variety. I grow a number of different cucumber varieties each season, so controlled pollination, or isolation is needed to maintain seed purity.

[Jeffnz]

Thanks, our cucumbers never made it as a potential seed crop so of course the colors would be different.