Airfield critters

[wvrailfan]

Anyone here have to share their flying field with wildlife or critters? Our field is part of a large park and we often have deer and wild turkeys run across the runway. We also have to deal with ugly blue crawfish that burrow under the field and often leave large mounds of mud around holes in the runway. It is easy enough to just remove the mud, generally by shoving as much as possible back into the hole. The holes have caused more than one nose over at our field.

We rarely see the crawfish as they only come out at night. Last night we had a heavy rain and today several of them were above ground during the day. I assume they are waiting for the water to drain from their tunnels.

There were also a lot of crawfish bits laying around. Apparently, when above ground during the day, they become a blue plate special for local birds and raccoons.

The one in the photo below is about 5 inches long, and the biggest of the survivors seen today.

[fhhuber]

We have birds nesting under our shelter and have had deer come right up to people while they were tuning glow engines.

[bradl4648]

I have actually had a red tail hawk attack my plane after it landed quite a sight to see. Also had a bold Eagle come and investigate our planes as well. Deer will normally stair and look at it like it car lights kinda funny. Sounds like having craw fish is just as bad as having moles and them making holes and burrows.
Good luck on that.

[Sky Wolf]

We have an electric fence at our field to keep out the cattle, the donkeys, and the wild boar. However, the boar got in last year and did some real damage to the grassy areas. Took 10 men and 2 days to get all the holes filled back in, and about 2 months for the grass to fill back in over the repaired holes. They are some dangerous field killers.

The rabbits that live under our storage shelter come out daily to check out the planes and eat some grass around their home. The geese that fly over once or twice a week, will sometimes land in the field outside the runway.

The white cranes in the pond at the north end of the hill/field try to stay away as we swoop over from time-to-time.

The hawks keep a close eye on "Everything"!

[boomer108]

We have deers and red tail hawks at our field. We have to clean t h e deer pellets of the runway every day before we fly.

Roy B.

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[doctormike]

I got into a dog fight with two Ospreys. Talk about fun! My plane came out of it in one piece. Doc

[MikeT]

We have game cameras around the field.

Mike

[Grossman56]

Oh lets see, birds, coyotes, the occasional wolf (see the tracks)rattle snakes(careful where you step when you're on the walk of shame!)deer, reportedly cougars,rabbits, raccoons, you name it, the only thing missing are Elk, Bears and Buffalo!! And they're not that far away either!!

Grossman56

[MikeT]

I put out a deer lick but so far the only thing I've caught on the camera is a coyote pissing on it. I do have a real bad picture of a bobcat and badger also. I'll post them when I run across them.
Here's a video of a visitor shot at another field we use. She would hang around and watch us than one day disappeared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6gnkBwQS5Y

MIke

[Grossman56]

That's priceless, I wonder what was going through her mind?

Grossman56

[wvrailfan]

That is cooler than the flip side of the pillow.

Jim

[Sky Wolf]

Mike T, that was an awesome video. What a fun few minutes of watching!!!

[Sky Wolf]

Here's one I did today at the field.

https://youtu.be/cQLf319QTOw

[KitBuilder]

Ospreys, Eagles, Fireants... the occassional snake