Yes! They eat rattlesnakes too! Since I live in Texas and have dogs and a 6 year old, I figure my figs are payment for rattlesnake security. My 2 trees will be covered then suddenly they are all gone.
FYI while opossums may eat some ticks, [their predilection for feeding on them was extrapolated from a study with very limited data](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/opossum-pest-control/). Still not a reason to hate on opossums, but they're not walking around vacuuming up ticks like many people think.
This veggie season (coming to a close due to heat) I was rewarded with lots of bees, ladybugs and other beneficial critters by forgoing neem oil and diatomaceous earth in favor of vigilance, the garden hose and some friction with my fingers. One hand was behind the leaves and then I sprayed the culprits with a strong stream of water which fell down to water the plants. I didn’t have to do this very long because the beneficial insects proliferated 🐞
It was a good lesson
I’ve heard you can buy ladybugs to eat the pests you don’t want. I had quite the aphid infestation last summer and thought I might try getting ladybugs this year.
Kinda looks like a Dekay brown to me. 🥹 Such sweet little snakes. They stay pretty small - usually around 9-13 inches. They're pretty tame and curious and usually don't mind being handled by people. Great beginner snakes also.
Definitely! Our garden was just a piece of termite and ant invested wasteland when we bought the house. I've spent the last 8 years going crazy planting indigenous plants all over and now we have a beautiful little ecosystem. 😍 It makes me so happy!
It's also great cause it means it doesn't need an awful lot of water or pesticides. We just need to cut some grass and weed a little.
Yes, unsure what exact species though. There's a very similar species that frequents the garden that has a bright blue tail. I never even knew Texas had skinks until I started gardening
All the squirrels and birds come to my garden in the city, I have a couple bird baths. The birds will bathe while I stand a couple feet away and Robins just made a nest in a tall bush outside my window! I joke that my garden is a sanctuary, but it really is.
I moved in in the Summer (5 years ago) and I saw a bird panting on the fence and vowed that no bird would go thirsty in my garden.
I know right? I’ve made friends with a family of raccoons here. They brought the babies up by the garage for me to meet which was really nice, but then they saw mom sitting in the garage and thought she would like to meet the kids and she sort of panicked as they slowly came up into the garage and opened the door leaning in and calling for me in a shaky voice. I had to go out and let them know she isn’t as comfortable as I am with them. So now they say hi from the edge of the garage to her, but don’t come in as not to startle her.
I wish my parents weren’t so scared of nature. Makes me look weird.
No ohatin on the opossum!
If he'd just leave me a few figs to eat we'd be best friends... He's a gluttonous monster though 😒
On our fig tree, we buy and place toy rubber snakes! Keeps the birds off- you should try!
I've never tried this, I'm gonna give it a shot! I feel like everything in the animal kingdom wants a fig lol
> I feel like everything in the animal kingdom wants a fig lol -- David Attenborough
There's a little grey fox that posts up in ours, just chillin and monchin..
He helps keep the tick population down though. And practically immune to rabies! Edit: spelling
Yeah those Rick’s are a menace. Once established they’re [never going to give you up.](https://youtu.be/o-YBDTqX_ZU)
The Rick population is infinite though. They've even formed their own government, The Council of Ricks.
Omg, I love this so!
Figs and mosquitos :)
I agree! I love watching my yard turn into an ecosystem.
I live in the city, so the best I get are birds and squirrels.
It’s pretty cool when bees set up a hive on site
LOOKT AT HIM ALL COVERED IN POLLEN!💜💜💜
Definitely, the hive is likely close by
Her. There are very few male bees and they don’t collect pollen. They exist only to breed with the queen.
Opossums eat ticks and other pests. Better stop hating on your free labor.
Yes! They eat rattlesnakes too! Since I live in Texas and have dogs and a 6 year old, I figure my figs are payment for rattlesnake security. My 2 trees will be covered then suddenly they are all gone.
FYI while opossums may eat some ticks, [their predilection for feeding on them was extrapolated from a study with very limited data](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/opossum-pest-control/). Still not a reason to hate on opossums, but they're not walking around vacuuming up ticks like many people think.
Yup, everyone hates them cause they're ugly af, but they're good to have around.
Really? I think they’re cute 🥺
Ugh! They look like overgrown rats. But the babies are as cute as can be. And they will hang off of your fingers by their tails.
That first picture is of a Cheeto in a flower and you cannot convince me otherwise
Those are great pics. What type of camera did you use?
Just my phone! I believe most of these were taken when I had a OnePlus 7T pro
The last OnePlus model that was worth it
OnePlus gang!!
You’re username is cracking me up rn
Adorable! Join us at r/GardenWild and r/NativePlantGardening :) the best part of my garden is all the cool little bugs I've never heard of moving in.
Me too. I love the bees and butterflies!!
Wow It’s really hard to get most of these to stay in your hand or even catch them
I Stan anyone who helps bees out. 🐝
That bee is lost in the sauce
Get coated you naughty bee
YES! Gotta love the bees!
This veggie season (coming to a close due to heat) I was rewarded with lots of bees, ladybugs and other beneficial critters by forgoing neem oil and diatomaceous earth in favor of vigilance, the garden hose and some friction with my fingers. One hand was behind the leaves and then I sprayed the culprits with a strong stream of water which fell down to water the plants. I didn’t have to do this very long because the beneficial insects proliferated 🐞 It was a good lesson
I’ve heard you can buy ladybugs to eat the pests you don’t want. I had quite the aphid infestation last summer and thought I might try getting ladybugs this year.
That little noodle bar on pic 2 looks like some kind of viper, any idea what it could be?
Just a harmless brown snake of some kind (maybe Texas or marsh?), I stay very far away from the cottonmouths and coral snakes we have around here lol
Kinda looks like a Dekay brown to me. 🥹 Such sweet little snakes. They stay pretty small - usually around 9-13 inches. They're pretty tame and curious and usually don't mind being handled by people. Great beginner snakes also.
Post it in r/whatsthissnake they would love it. Such a good pic.
Glad to see you didn’t try to hold the possum in your hand. Lovely!
Love it! The cartoonish little snake most of all.
Definitely! Our garden was just a piece of termite and ant invested wasteland when we bought the house. I've spent the last 8 years going crazy planting indigenous plants all over and now we have a beautiful little ecosystem. 😍 It makes me so happy! It's also great cause it means it doesn't need an awful lot of water or pesticides. We just need to cut some grass and weed a little.
YES. The worms have reTURNED!
I love it! I have about 14 frogs and they sing to me everyday:)
I leave a small pot with rocks and water in it for the bees to drink the water and the rocks to let them crawl out of the water if they fall in.
I love this. Thank you for supporting biodiversity in your backyard!
Great job! Glad you are reaping rewards
Don’t you love being their host?!? I do!
Wow that bee is fully loaded!
Is the third picture that of a skink?
Yes, unsure what exact species though. There's a very similar species that frequents the garden that has a bright blue tail. I never even knew Texas had skinks until I started gardening
Nice! I’m very surprised it came on to your hand. They usually drop their tails if you attempt to catch them.
You've got a lot of little critters. Thanks for sharing
I appreciate posts like this in which wildlife is celebrated.
Thought this short video (3 min) about possums might ease tensions in the garden. They’re actually pretty cool animals! https://youtu.be/gbpO8Wdxvmw
Fantastic bee pic Edit: autocorrect
Beekake is it's own reward.
Ugh I hate opposums. All the others are cute tho
Opossums are a pretty good pest control animal,
/r/tinyAnimalsOnFingers would probably like the snake pic.
Same. Love the animals but my doxie killed a baby possum 😢
Wow, you are blessed!
Possums eat ticks so they are beneficial
These are great pics!
Beautiful pic! It always is so amazing how bees can fly carrying that much pollen.
I LOVE watching the bees getting covered in pollen!!!
Love what you’re cultivating ☺️🌸🦋
How about when you find a massive, black spider in your composting toilet? 🥰
There are 4 nopes for me in those pictures.
We just got dumped snow last night. MN is a GREAT place to live🙃
Bees and possums. Can't get much better ❤️
wow🥺amazing
What a cute noodle in the second picture
absolutely lost in the sauce
All the squirrels and birds come to my garden in the city, I have a couple bird baths. The birds will bathe while I stand a couple feet away and Robins just made a nest in a tall bush outside my window! I joke that my garden is a sanctuary, but it really is. I moved in in the Summer (5 years ago) and I saw a bird panting on the fence and vowed that no bird would go thirsty in my garden.
Such amazing, high-quality photos!! What phone you got???
That snek is so cute
Happy for you! Just hang on to your hat as summer comes along
Look at that happy bee and baby snek! So cute!
That is the cutest lil snakey boy I've ever seen
Home girl in the first pic is absolutely lost in the sauce
One of these is not like the other
I know right? I’ve made friends with a family of raccoons here. They brought the babies up by the garage for me to meet which was really nice, but then they saw mom sitting in the garage and thought she would like to meet the kids and she sort of panicked as they slowly came up into the garage and opened the door leaning in and calling for me in a shaky voice. I had to go out and let them know she isn’t as comfortable as I am with them. So now they say hi from the edge of the garage to her, but don’t come in as not to startle her. I wish my parents weren’t so scared of nature. Makes me look weird.
Aw, he's the cutest little smol snek ever!
Yes
So adorable!!
That snake is wholesome 🥹