Crazy creature… echidna!
I have been fishing all the files off my old dead laptop (*sigh*) and came across a little series I thought long lost to computer oblivion…
It was a set I really wanted to share, taken earlier last year when we still had several naughty little puppies on the Granite Glen scene… a little snatch of time which had adults, children and young canines alike, hanging over the fence. We all called on Mr Incredible to help us out. I took photos, I lost photos, and then today, found photos.…
I have a horrible feeling he was giving me the echidna version of ‘the finger’!
So I am (finally) delighted to bring you …
The Echidna Files
See how close those puppies got as we examined our little porcupine-like visitor?
Poor echidna curled up tightly in a very prickly ball and refused to show us his sweet little face.
He wasn’t trusting any of us!
Mr Incredible (who must’ve been having quite a day, by the look of those battered hands) tried to pry the quills apart for curious onlookers (OK, and lense-holders!)
C’mon fella… give us a hand Dash!
Ha… there! Can you see… right eye just below Mr Incredible’s battered left index finger, two porcupine little hands just above Mr I’s right hand, and long snout in the middle…
Ain’t he handsome?
…
Well, it may be a face only a mummy echidna would love, but I reckon he’s kinda cute anyway!
The kids spent about ten minutes this day, ooohing and aaahing over this rarely-spotted native monotreme (egg-laying mammal), before we decided to release him back over the fence. And restrain the puppies from further harrassment of our prickly friend…
…
I’m not sure he fully appreciated our efforts though…
Just before we put him down, I snapped this…
I have a horrible feeling he was giving me the echidna version of ‘the finger’!…
PS HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, everyone!
18 Comments
Mom L
So, am I the first Yank to wish you Happy Australia Day? I even put it on my Outlook Calendar!!!
What adorable, sorta, pictures! My first echidna. And the last photo made me laugh out loud – the nerve of the little critter, giving you the finger!!! And quite a finger it is, too.
Nancy in Atlanta (Diane’s Mom)
Jayne
Happy Oz Day back at ya, love the echidna pics 🙂
Gem
One of my favourite Aussie natives and on Australia Day too. When I used to do wildlife rescue I had a baby echidna – now they are beyond cute. I’ll see if I can dig up the photos.
rhubarbwhine
great pics again, BB. Happy Australia Day to you xx
Wrensong Farm
Happy Australia Day! How fun to see a real echidna up close and personal!
What a fascinating little creature, even though it obviously has a bad attitude!! 🙂
A Novel Woman
Whoa, I’ve never even heard about these little guys let alone seen one! How cool are those?!
And Happy Australia day! May it be filled with….well, whatever it is one does on Australia Day. On Canada Day, July 1st, it’s beer, burgers on the bbq, swimming in the lake and just chillin’. You?
Kate
Happy Australia Day!!! The Echidna is sooo stinkin’ cute! I love their little faces and feet (even when they are giving the finger). Does it crack you up how much we Yanks love your Aussie critters? I’m totally obsessed. I’m sad i haven’t been on your blog all week (volunteering with Sundance Film Festival) But i’m back and I’ve loved your posts this week!
Scotty
Happy Australia Day back at ya, BB.
🙂
jeanie
lol – we were just checking out OUR echidna shots from the same time this morning – ‘Salina was finding a few photos for her school books – too cute, eh?
I wonder are there nests of them still in the rocks down near the old dump?
Oh – and you missed the great wheelbarrow escape chapter?
Happy Australia Day.
Bush Babe
Hello everyone – my brief window of opportunity at blogdom tonight! Quickly… we are flat out here at Granite Glen branding – if you check through the files from last year about this time you’ll see what I’m up to!!!
So Australia Day spent working in the paddocks and the yards – it wasn’t too horribly hot though, with a couple of heavy showers to cool us off!!!
Saw no echidnas today… but did catch sight of two emus and numerous roos! Happy Oz Day all…
I’ll have a cold chardonnay for y’all tonight!
🙂
BB
Pencil Writer
Happy Aussie Day to you with the rest of the well wishers. And when I saw your pictures of the echidna, I suddenly thought of Mrs. Tiggywinkle–one of my most favorite of Beatrix Potter’s stories.
Does the WV “moushe” work for you?
Danielle Michelle
Love reading about your life – No echidna here though – but I did have a muskrat chase my horse down the road! I’ve posted an award for you as your blog makes me laugh often!
Diane L. Dodd
that little echidna is so cute to me! and seems very sassy too 🙂
and it’s always nice when something good comes out of a little bad luck- like finding great pics you thought you’d lost. happy aussie day matie!
uggh, how dumb american sounding was that?
Reddirt Woman
My first thought was it looks like what we in the States call a hedgehog, but it is quite a bit larger I think. Thank Mr. I for helping you to get a shot of it for your blog. I think that little face and feet shot is too fun.
Thanks.
Helen
If you’re able to get on the internet, come on over and check out my 100th post give-away.
BTW, if you get enough
Debby
So these echnidna don’t have barbed quills which imbed themselves in your skin (or your dog’s skin) at the merest touch? We’ve pulled the quills out of so many a dog that it was rather a shock to see Mr. I touching your spiney critter with no ill effects.
Debby
Oh, jeepers. PS. Happy Australia Day.
Bush Babe
Deb – quills don’t seem to stick in humans – think they are more geared for defensive mode rather than attack! Mr I was unscathed (by the echidna at least!)
Helen – you stopped mid-sentence??
Diane – listen mate, if you are going to go around being a pseudo Australian, then get it right! We never call it Aussie Day. ‘Stralia Day maybe, but not Aussie Day (and Aussie is always said: OZ-Zee, not Oss-ee). And never say ‘Crikey’. *pauses mid-lecture* Well, you can say whatever you like!!! After all, you are American!! Heh..
Danielle – you are too sweet, thanks!!! And thanks for dropping by!
PW – great call!! Exactly…
Jeanie – you do the Wheelbarrow Escape, please. Did we get pics of that??
Scotty – thanks mate!
Kate – Sundance festival.. really! I must pop over when I get a sec to check it out!!! Missed ya!
Pam – thanks love! When I lived in the city, we would do the whole barbecue, beers, beach thing… now we are in the bush – we work!!! But we loved it anyway…
WS – Glad you enjoyed from a distance!!
RW – back at ya!
Gem – wildlife rescue … something we have done on occasion here (on a non-official level of course!). Look forward to your pics…
Jayne – bet you have a great historical swathe of info for Jan 26!
Mom – “why THANKYA mah dear!” (in extremely bad American accent, to make up for the lecture I gave Diane!!). You are too kind!!
🙂
BB
"Ice Pony Girl"
Geez…scary looking little creature.