This series provides an invaluable longitudinal study of Appalachian biodiversity, capturing the raw, unscripted rhythms of the Great Smoky Mountains. Donnie Laws’ patient documentation effectively elevates citizen science into a compelling narrative of ecological resilience.
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Appalachia Wildlife Video 2026-19 of AS THE RIDGE TURNS: The Foothills of the Great Smoky MountainsAdded:
This week [music] on As the Ridge Turn, the animals really enjoyed spring.
And the bucks are growing their antlers back here, the little bachelor group.
And all the other little animals are really [music] enjoying spring.
Everything's on the move.
>> [music] >> Welcome spring.
Welcome to the [music] foothills of the Smokies. Another chapter of As the Ridge Turns here in East Tennessee.
And the woods are >> [music] >> full colored, full leaf.
And it's been kind of warm, [music] but it gets kind of cool, too, these little bitty winters.
They come and they go.
But ain't these woods beautiful?
But the ticks are out heavy.
Well, I hope you're all doing well out there, enjoying the [music] spring weather, and taking care of yourself.
Oh, we've had a little bit of rain, but not much. We need so much more.
And this old pond, it's just a natural sinkhole that used to hold water.
But it only comes and goes with the rain.
No rain, [music] no water.
But it's a beautiful place.
I hope you're all doing well. Take care.
And let's see what's going on in the woods this week.
You can see the bucks right here, growing their antlers back, the little bachelor herd.
Ain't they beautiful?
And they just browsing the ridge, wherever they happen to go.
And that's part of the Dirty Dan clan jumping through.
And there's a squirrel right on top of the camera, enjoying his lunch.
But they enjoy this ridge as much as all the other animals.
Everything's on the move.
And there's an old feral cat, Stub, he'll hanging around.
And the turkey, here's some Toms, they're still still chasing these hens, but it's coming to an end.
But the hens are just wandering around everywhere.
They've got nests, and I hope they do good.
And there's a picture of old Billy Bob the bobcat moving off in the background, just passing through. They got young, too.
And there's old Yeller moving up the ridge.
Now, I know old Yeller only got one eye.
And I'm glad to see him doing good. He don't move around as much as he used to.
And the little bird, there's the little wood thrush.
You know summer's here when they're come.
And the little ground squirrels and chipmunks enjoying their stuff.
And the deer herd, the does, I hope we have some good fawns this year.
And they just relax when they can.
You can see that doe in the background, looks like she's heavy.
And at the acorn pile, a little robin getting him a worm.
And the little chipmunk, ground squirrel, working all the camp.
But the old gray squirrel loves this place.
These acorns are getting just about picked over, and all they're just they're just old. They just pick over a lot of them, but they still nibble here and there.
But these squirrels got to be aware, they too much after them.
These hawks especially.
And they kind of get nervous.
But they get hungry, too.
And at the old salt block, there's the bachelor group.
You can see them little nubs coming on their head, growing their antlers back.
But all these does enjoy this thing, too.
Some of these does look really heavy with fawns.
But they're another month and a half away.
>> [laughter] >> And sometimes they just want to check out the camera and say hi.
And at the stump, there's a little titmouse.
Ain't it pretty?
And an old turkey hen browsing through.
But the little squirrel, they love this stump.
They always here one time or another, eating their lunch, and just seeing what's going on.
They see the camera.
Down at the cut, squirrels as always through here.
They just prowl all day long.
And the deer, this is just a natural crossing between the rocks, between these different ledges of the ridge.
And they they love to travel this way, too.
And at the log, there's a little blue jay >> [laughter] >> right in front of the camera.
They just doing their thing on the ground.
And there's a little wood thrush, Woody.
He seems to enjoy the camp.
And the deer in the background, browsing on the green leaves of these sapling growth coming in the woods.
And they just take it easy when they can.
Just enjoying the day.
And there's little Chucky, little ground squirrel, chipmunk, whatever you want to call it, doing his thing.
But there's old Ricky.
He shows up sooner or later checking things out.
But he has to be on the lookout, too.
Too many hawks and coyotes stuff looking for him.
And at the tree, the deer is just browsing through.
A little yearling.
They just about on their complete own.
But this looks like old Dirty Dan for sure.
The Dirty Dan clan is not moving around much this week, but don't Dirty Dan was.
And the little squirrels just playing, having a good time.
And up at the rock, there's little Woody, little wood thrush, right in front of the camera.
Ain't he pretty?
And he seems to be fascinated with the camera every year.
He'll just sit and stare at it, wondering what it is.
And there's a beautiful male cardinal.
Ain't they beautiful? And they sing so beautiful all day long.
Beautiful little bird, little songbird.
And there's a little ground squirrel.
Maybe that's Chucky.
And the old squirrel, Ricky, looks like him just stretched out here on his perch, taking it easy.
That is until an old feral cat comes through here.
They just checking things out.
Looking for Mighty Mouse.
And the only thing I've seen for these groundhogs, they've just coming through and going back.
Different angles of them.
They didn't hang around on the patio this week.
They take them kind of spell.
Rather see them sometimes, and then sometimes they They right in front of the camera all the time.
They just coming and going.
There he is.
On his way out.
Old Dirty Dan.
At the back door is a little ground squirrel gathering leaves.
He must be making him a nest, too.
Hard to catch them stuff like this.
But here's an old cat looks like.
Nope, that's a deer.
Right behind the rock motel on the back door. Duck his head down over the rock.
There's a little old feral cat looking for that mighty mouse.
They smell them.
They just keep hunting for them.
And there's old Dirty Dan coming through. He ain't wasting no time, either.
And down at the pond here's what the pond looks like.
Peaceful place.
On both cameras.
And the weeds just seem to be slowly taking over.
Unless these little animals step right in front of the camera they don't trip them.
But here you see a little bird here.
Ain't it beautiful?
Beautiful bird.
And a little cardinal female enjoying its morning.
And another wood thrush. Nope. This is a thrasher.
They look similar, but they're not.
Thrasher reminds me of a roadrunner.
And a little squirrel.
They enjoying their day here, too.
And when it comes dark the old just coming out the den tree saying what's going on.
They coming and going.
There's No Tail and his crew starting their shift.
But they seem nervous, too.
Always looking out.
But they do what they got to do.
And the little possums they love it now cuz all these bugs are out. They love to get them.
And so do them old coyotes. They love to get them all.
They relentless.
Always hunting and tracking.
Sad thing is they catch one of these little animals vulnerable they don't show no mercy.
But they're part of nature. Nothing we can do about it.
But the deer do what they got to do at night just like they do during the day.
The old doe you can see them here.
Looks like she's heavy with fawn.
And I hope we have some good fawns this year.
And here's a raw capture of a screech owl in a tree doing some hunting.
Watching them field mice.
And he'll get them, too.
And right here's one at the acorn pile at night.
And these owls will get these little mice.
And there's a possum moving around working around the acorn pile.
Enjoying his self.
Looking for bugs or whatever he can get a hold of.
And down at the salt block at night, there's a making his rounds through. They like his salt block, too.
And the deer they down here at night just as much as they are during the day.
And they enjoying their self.
Unless these coyotes move them off.
And here at the stump there's two eating on mushrooms.
That's the reason I can't find no mushrooms.
The passing through in back of the stump.
And the possum looking for them bugs.
And at the cut deer just browsing through.
On his way to the field, I guess.
Looks like a fawn there being heavy with fawn.
And there's another feral cat moving up through the cut.
And the old coon's moving through.
And No Tail digging after something.
Looks like a little barracuda. Don't it?
The old possum uses it, too, just as much as the rest of the animals.
And at the tree yeah.
This is on the routine trail way here.
They got to check this spot out.
And here's [clears throat] one chasing bugs.
They ain't big.
And here's the feral cats moving around.
That looks like old tiger there.
And I don't know what this one is. It ain't Old Yeller. It's got two eyes.
New cat.
And then up at the rock motel few coons up here just prowling around.
But they seem nervous, too.
They know old Billy Bob the bobcat and Charlie the coyote's out there.
And the possum, they live here.
Out doing his thing.
And sometimes he have to do a little grooming here.
Ain't that common.
But you got to check in every once in a while. Go take a nap.
And they right back out.
And here's this feral cat looking for mighty mouse.
He's a watching for it.
He just settles in waiting.
I'm going to call this cat Spook.
Old Spooky.
But the skunk's here, too. He lives here, too.
And I hope to see some young somewhere.
He just doing his skunk thing.
Leaving his scent.
He enjoys the patio just as much as Dirty Dan does.
At the back door, possum moving through.
And the This is old Scar.
He's got a hunk out of his back.
But he's doing all right.
You can see it right here. Good good view of his wound.
He seems to be healing up real good.
And I'm glad.
But old Spook here coming through looking for mighty mouse.
And old tiger's here, too.
Didn't see mighty mouse this week. He stayed hid. He knows what's good for him.
And up on the ridge, the deer just browsing through on their trail.
And the coons we know where they're going.
That's No Tail and his crew going to the pond.
And the little possum.
And that looks like Spooky up here on the ridge.
>> And down at the pond, the coons are always down here, even though they don't trip the camera most of the time anymore.
But, they enjoy their sale. They're always down here one way or another.
But, these weeds are only going to get heavy.
Come down.
Turkeys off the roost, moving through.
And a little owl right at daylight. You see the fog moving through.
Doing some hunting right at daylight.
For our cabin.
And a little bird.
There's a little thrasher doing his thing.
And a deer.
They're always up.
Checking things out.
Saying hi this morning.
Just moving through.
Starting their day here on the ridge.
Another day unfolds.
Little animals trying to eat, survive another day.
Nap time for the little squirrels.
They do their thing just like any other animal.
Work hard all day long.
And they're so comical and relaxing to watch.
Ain't they beautiful?
Well, guys, that's just what stepped in front of the cameras this week.
You never know what will show up in these front of these cameras.
So, I want to thank you for watching.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
So, take care out there. God bless. And I'll see you next time.
>> [music]
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