Text and illustrations Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
English translation Liis

Estonian text  posted 21.02.2019

The antler-shedding period of the red deer is still ahead;  from previous years we know that even a powerful old stag sheds its antlers in the last week but one in February at the earliest. 

Images: Tiia and Ain Panek
English translation Liis

In East Virumaa there is enough snow

Roe deer           Metskits or kaber       Capreolus capreolus

How and why do wild animals find their way into a home garden?

We can only guess, and there may be quite a number of different reasons but probably that household has no dog, the entrance to the yard is not closed with a gate and the animal felt secure for almost a week.

Text and webcam records Tiit Hunt, www.rmk.ee
English translation Liis

Estonian text posted 13.02.2019

MatsaluBay has frozen to a large open field and the paths of the jackals now in winter seem to run in wider sweeps, the sea is no longer an obstacle that keeps the animals firmly on the shore areas. The tracks of two jackals have been observed  running across the bay.

Video recorded by  Ahto Täpsi
English translation Liis

Small spring-fed streams flow in the hilly landscape where the beaver family is active and has its winter life

Beaver         Kobras ehk piiber         Castor fiber

There is soon cause to discuss the life of beavers – at the end of February their heat period starts.

When a beaver dives, a line of small air bubbles remains along its path. The fur of the animal is not wetted but for this it has to take care. Its fur consists of an extremely dense undercoat through which water cannot penetrate and rougher and longer upper hairs.

The air layer in the undercoat protects the beaver against wetting as well as cooling off.

Web camera image  IceAge, LK foorumist

Photo Kaido Haagen, www.kaidohaagen.com

English translation Liis

Stickleback shoal at the trout spawning place. Such a great number has not been seen earlier

Ninespine stickleback       Luukarits          Pungitius pungitius