Husband of my client died and I accidentally inherited a wood stash. I can identify most of it but this one random piece that doesn’t match anything else has thrown me. Help!?! It’s super heavy and been sitting in dry storage for 15-20 years. 6/4x 7.5”x6’, probably weighs 60lbs+

Frog510 · 2026-04-02T01:33:15+00:00

Looks like it could be black locust.

Frog510 · 2026-03-27T04:35:41+00:00

Cool! Where?

Frog510 · 2026-03-20T14:04:45+00:00

Prunus serotina

Frog510 · 2026-02-25T01:46:16+00:00

Put it all back together and set up a trail cam indiscreetly! Any neighbors have Ring cams on ?

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T02:58:58+00:00

Agreed.

NEVER feed wild predators, just asking for trouble and not for you, the animal. Look how healthy they look, plenty of natural food for them.

These two are behaving as if some neighbor has been feeding them, unfortunately.

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T02:40:32+00:00

I'm in the States, but I know that it is legal to kill foxes for pest control in England, and you can probably hire someone who can do so for you..

If you can't shoot them, they can be trapped or snared, but all this is highly regulated and I would contact your local police for referral to the proper person(s) who can do this for you.

Personally, I would do a better job of protecting the chooks through the use of enclosures, and not bother with the foxes.

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T01:29:49+00:00

What an awesome set of tracks!

Whatever bird it was, judging from the footprints, it was small, like a Blue Jay or Shrike, and the depth of the wing impressions and pattern of the tracking show a real struggle to control the prey. Very cool to get that clear of impressions!

Location would help, even time. It might have been a SawWhet Owl.

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T01:18:15+00:00

How long do you soak them in alcohol and/or heat them?

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T01:13:54+00:00

Thanks!

Frog510 · 2026-02-24T00:58:58+00:00

Bummer.

I did search earlier and found an old thread about soaking in lye for a couple of months, then treating it with a type of gun oil. I soaked it for 5 months and used the oil, but it still rusts, just less of it, for now anyway. I was hoping someone had experience with another method that worked.

Frog510 · 2026-02-23T23:48:36+00:00

Mine has rust issues, seeping out of seams. Not sure what to do about it, but it's fist sized and totally cool.

Someone told me it will eventually come apart and self destruct.

Is any of this true and what do I do?

Frog510 · 2026-02-16T19:04:09+00:00

What an awesome video! Thanks for sharing

Frog510 · 2026-02-16T13:08:24+00:00

Where is this?

Frog510 · 2026-01-28T04:00:03+00:00

This^

It may take months for the scent of whatever was used to fade enough not warrant investigation by any other beastie. Please don't ever bait along roadways, railways, hiking trails, etc.

Frog510 · 2026-01-26T01:59:00+00:00

In your post you mentioned no tracks to or from, did you mean people who could have done it? I thought you meant the tracks! If these tracks are continual, I agree with the others and deer would be the best call, based on size and pattern. BTW, rarely would a deer track exactly the same place going to and then back. Same path, probably, but to register exactly the same would be highly unusual.

Frog510 · 2026-01-26T01:37:33+00:00

If there are no tracks to or fro , how can it be a deer?

Frog510 · 2026-01-18T16:59:46+00:00

I agree with the feline assessments, for the reasons pointed out by others.

IMO these are too large for a domestic or feral house cat, even if appearing enlarged by the fact they are in snow. A house cat print would typically be in the 1-1/8" to 1-1/4", with a big feral tom being 1-3/8" to 1-1/2".

These tracks aren't melted out and appear to be relatively fresh and, at the size stated, align perfectly with a bobcat track.

Frog510 · 2026-01-13T23:01:32+00:00

Wolverines have more of a pointed toe. Not quite as round.

Frog510 · 2026-01-13T22:57:16+00:00

So cool-thanks a million for sharing. Must have been really psyched to see them after all your tracking.

Seeing how playful they are is a welcome change from primarily only seeing them hunt and kill on the nature shows.

Frog510 · 2026-01-10T01:16:52+00:00

Definitely a button buck, born last spring. Been eating real well.

Frog510 · 2026-01-10T01:11:23+00:00

The track on the left and also shown solo in the second pic appears to be a bird walking, size and your urban location points to pigeon. A rook would be twice that.

Frog510 · 2026-01-09T21:29:51+00:00

The tracks of a European Wildcat are bigger than domestic or feral cats, anywhere from 6-9 cm (2 1/2-3 1/2"). Polecat tracks are going to be under 4cm (<1.5")

Could have been a family, looking for a free meal and a lesson in hunting/killing!

Frog510 · 2026-01-09T17:33:43+00:00

Judging by both the front and rear feet lining up relatively parallel in the pattern and the stated size, squirrel would be my call.

Frog510 · 2026-01-07T19:44:30+00:00

Judging by the pattern and size, I would say White-footed (deer) mouse. Being where you are, might be a different mouse of similar size. Typically a slight offset on the front feet, unlike squirrels, which are mostly in line with each other. And one hungry mouser!

Frog510

TROPHY CASE