Wild Life Gallery

Published February 24, 2004

All of the following photographs were taken here at Lake View.

Baby Deer Sleeping - Odocoileus virginianus
This photo was taken to the right of #5 fairway in the spring of 2002.

Baby Deer Standing
This is the same baby deer in the photo above. Sorry for waking you up little guy.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Taken in late March 2008 soaring above the fairway on hole #5. Learn More

Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina
This little snapper was making his way across #8 fairway.

Black Bear - Ursus americanus
Caught on video tape in 2002, this bear was traveling between the superintendent's house and the driving range. Hey Gordon get the video camera, there's a bear in the back yard!

Baby Turtle
This little guy was on the same trail as the big guy in the photo above.

Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo
These birds are very wary. It's hard to get close enough to get a good photo. In the winter of 2001-2002, you could spot this flock scratching for acorns on the golf course daily.

Female Mallard Duck and Babies - Anas platyrhynchos
For the last several springs, a pair of mallards settle in at the pond next to #7 tee to nurture their offspring.

Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle - Harmonia axyridis (Ha)
First released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as far back as the 1920s to control aphids (sucking insect) on agricultural crops. Once established, this beetle spread rapidly, by the early '90s it could be found nearly everywhere. Attracted to warm, sheltered spots in the fall, "Ha" began to find light-colored, sunlit houses to be ideal overwintering sites. These adult beetles spend the winter in attics, window wells, bedrooms, and between walls until spring, when they once again are nudged by nature to swarm out of the houses to breed and feed for the summer.

Within the past few years we have seen swarms of these insects on and around the golf course. In conjunction with their appearance, there has been a significant decline in aphid damage to the Hawthorn trees on the golf course.

Eastern Fox Squirrel - Sciurus niger
After a couple of times around the tree this squirrel finally poked his head out for a photo opportunity. One squirrel may bury hundreds or even thousands of nuts. Although many are found again, squirrels contribute heavily to the planting of new trees when unfound food caches sprout and grow.

Snapping turtles
lay 20-40 eggs at a time, each the size of a ping-pong ball. The eggs hatch in early autumn. Snapping turtles prefer muddy lakes and ponds, as well as slow-moving rivers. Most turtles stay in one general area from year to year. One study found 91.9% of turtles returning to the same nesting site one year later (McVey et al., 1993). They usually live 30-40 years.

Walking Stick
The walking stick has the unusual ability of partial regeneration. If a leg is lost or damaged it will grow back after several successive molts. By molting, or shedding its skin, the walking stick is able to grow to an astounding size in just a few months. Once the skin is shed the walking stick eats its own molt. Walking sticks lay eggs which are dropped to the ground and remain there until they hatch. In the event there are no males in the area a walking stick can lay healthy eggs which hatch and result in females only. Walking sticks belong to the scientific order - Phasmida - Author: Dwight Zirschky

Racoon
On March 17th 2005 while inspecting the golf course, I came across this little Racoon. I think he was crouching down as if he was hiding. I took the picture and continued on my way.

Salamander

Usually early every Spring we'll spot one of these rather large slamanders traveling across the golf course. I've tried to identify this little creature but I haven't been able to pin down the exact species. If we have any biologists out there that know who this creature is please let us know.

Groundhog (Woodchuck)

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? See what Wikipedia has to say.

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