Wildlife Scenes from Norwell

Although Norwell has a vibrant business community, there is still plenty of open space in town, both public and private.  If you're more interested in 4H than 4 corners, you don't have to go too far in Norwell.  You can spot deer at Stetson Meadows, coyotes anywhere near Wompatuck Park, and farm animals from Main Street to Washington Street, Winter Street to Summer Street.  For farming pictures, see On the Farm.  For a few transient birds, click birds

Deer are more common in Norwell.  This series was taken by Frank Macdonald, of Hunneman- Norwell, on Winter Street.

Spring 

Goldfinches match the forsythia and daffodils of spring

Other critters

	Taken at night, so these pictures aren't great.  But can you tell who we have here? Take a close look,... but not too close.
too close...	Good riddance...

Still seeking: Pictures of Coyotes, Foxes and other creatures that roam Norwell.

OK, I couldn't resist.  In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit I didn't take this picture in Norwell.  But I've seen plenty of foxes here in Norwell, and this was a good lucky shot that this webmaster took while on vacation in Canada, so I'm posting it:

This is exactly what a Norwell fox would look like!

Winter

Tracks are most easily seen in winter's fresh snow.  Here are a few tracks in the snow from last winter:

	This Deer Run to the left shows how deer often tend to run on the same game paths. Tracking in winter is easy. To the right, Bugs Bunny came and went.   Rabbit tracks tend to be close to their hole, so as to be able to duck quickly from danger.
	Coyote tracks such as those seen here are common in the woods. Note the straight line in across this field to the left.  This is no house pet sniffing every bush and tree.  This animal is on a straight line, looking for food. To the right, he's in a little more of a hurry, as shown by the trotting cadence.

 P

lenty of other wildlife is easy to spot, if you like to get outside, and just  go looking! It's fun, and many tracks tell a story.

   Ms Red-bellied Woodpecker  

Mystery Tracks:

These prints were photographed in late March, in the woods between Lincoln Street and Grove Street.  The prints were about 5-6" long, and 4" wide; the gait was 6'.  They were deep enough in the mud to suggest weight of  no less than 100lbs.  Hound of the Baskervilles perhaps?  Whatever left these was big.  (The green ruler in the photo is a 12" ruler) The picture to the left shows the prints up close; The photo on the right shows the six foot gait!  Anyone out there care to venture a guess? (Too big to be coyote)

  Transient Birds come through Norwell:

Woodpecker	Not a pigeon, but a Mourning Dove (usually two, together)
Goldfinches (female L, male R)	Nuthatch	Cardinal

Plenty of waterfowl, turtles, fish, muskrat, and other critters live around Norwell's lakes.  Torrey Pond is pictured below, with a close-up of a resting duck next.

For real working animals, check out pictures of the the ox pull from the Norwell Town Fair, (you'll have to scroll down a bit from this link) from last spring.  They're not just grazers. 

Box turtles are a protected or endangered species here in Massachusetts, but they're around Norwell.  This one pictured below is just waking up from winter, and will roaming the forests and fields soon!

For these wild turkeys, seen on the corner of Black Pond Hill Drive and Summer Street, fall is learning time.  Mother turkey hustled these chicks in to the brush before we could get another shot!

Geese chicks:

We're hoping to get more photos of Norwell wildlife up on the site.  If you have pictures and can assure us that they were taken in Norwell, we'll post them (with or without the photographer's name, at your option).  Watch for pictures of deer and coyotes, those stealthy wild animal's who leave sign, but usually don't stick around long enough to get a good shot (from a lens, that is).

Home     AroundTown     Directions      Education     History   North River    Retail Links    Rural Norwell    Schools    Town Phones   Contact us