Appalachia Wildlife Video 2026-19 of AS THE RIDGE TURNS: The Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]This week [music] on As the Ridge Turn, the animals really enjoyed spring.

[00:00:07]And the bucks are growing their antlers back here, the little bachelor group.

[00:00:11]And all the other little animals are really [music] enjoying spring.

[00:00:14]Everything's on the move.

[00:00:18]>> [music] >> Welcome spring.

[00:00:36]Welcome to the [music] foothills of the Smokies. Another chapter of As the Ridge Turns here in East Tennessee.

[00:00:42]And the woods are >> [music] >> full colored, full leaf.

[00:00:49]And it's been kind of warm, [music] but it gets kind of cool, too, these little bitty winters.

[00:00:54]They come and they go.

[00:00:56]But ain't these woods beautiful?

[00:01:00]But the ticks are out heavy.

[00:01:02]Well, I hope you're all doing well out there, enjoying the [music] spring weather, and taking care of yourself.

[00:01:10]Oh, we've had a little bit of rain, but not much. We need so much more.

[00:01:17]And this old pond, it's just a natural sinkhole that used to hold water.

[00:01:24]But it only comes and goes with the rain.

[00:01:28]No rain, [music] no water.

[00:01:32]But it's a beautiful place.

[00:01:34]I hope you're all doing well. Take care.

[00:01:37]And let's see what's going on in the woods this week.

[00:01:44]You can see the bucks right here, growing their antlers back, the little bachelor herd.

[00:01:52]Ain't they beautiful?

[00:01:54]And they just browsing the ridge, wherever they happen to go.

[00:01:58]And that's part of the Dirty Dan clan jumping through.

[00:02:04]And there's a squirrel right on top of the camera, enjoying his lunch.

[00:02:13]But they enjoy this ridge as much as all the other animals.

[00:02:18]Everything's on the move.

[00:02:23]And there's an old feral cat, Stub, he'll hanging around.

[00:02:31]And the turkey, here's some Toms, they're still still chasing these hens, but it's coming to an end.

[00:02:40]But the hens are just wandering around everywhere.

[00:02:43]They've got nests, and I hope they do good.

[00:02:48]And there's a picture of old Billy Bob the bobcat moving off in the background, just passing through. They got young, too.

[00:02:58]And there's old Yeller moving up the ridge.

[00:03:06]Now, I know old Yeller only got one eye.

[00:03:11]And I'm glad to see him doing good. He don't move around as much as he used to.

[00:03:17]And the little bird, there's the little wood thrush.

[00:03:23]You know summer's here when they're come.

[00:03:26]And the little ground squirrels and chipmunks enjoying their stuff.

[00:03:34]And the deer herd, the does, I hope we have some good fawns this year.

[00:03:44]And they just relax when they can.

[00:03:47]You can see that doe in the background, looks like she's heavy.

[00:03:53]And at the acorn pile, a little robin getting him a worm.

[00:04:02]And the little chipmunk, ground squirrel, working all the camp.

[00:04:11]But the old gray squirrel loves this place.

[00:04:16]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.

[00:04:28]But these squirrels got to be aware, they too much after them.

[00:04:32]These hawks especially.

[00:04:36]And they kind of get nervous.

[00:04:41]But they get hungry, too.

[00:04:46]And at the old salt block, there's the bachelor group.

[00:04:50]You can see them little nubs coming on their head, growing their antlers back.

[00:05:00]But all these does enjoy this thing, too.

[00:05:04]Some of these does look really heavy with fawns.

[00:05:09]But they're another month and a half away.

[00:05:11]>> [laughter] >> And sometimes they just want to check out the camera and say hi.

[00:05:23]And at the stump, there's a little titmouse.

[00:05:27]Ain't it pretty?

[00:05:31]And an old turkey hen browsing through.

[00:05:41]But the little squirrel, they love this stump.

[00:05:45]They always here one time or another, eating their lunch, and just seeing what's going on.

[00:05:56]They see the camera.

[00:06:01]Down at the cut, squirrels as always through here.

[00:06:05]They just prowl all day long.

[00:06:12]And the deer, this is just a natural crossing between the rocks, between these different ledges of the ridge.

[00:06:21]And they they love to travel this way, too.

[00:06:26]And at the log, there's a little blue jay >> [laughter] >> right in front of the camera.

[00:06:35]They just doing their thing on the ground.

[00:06:39]And there's a little wood thrush, Woody.

[00:06:45]He seems to enjoy the camp.

[00:06:48]And the deer in the background, browsing on the green leaves of these sapling growth coming in the woods.

[00:06:58]And they just take it easy when they can.

[00:07:03]Just enjoying the day.

[00:07:07]And there's little Chucky, little ground squirrel, chipmunk, whatever you want to call it, doing his thing.

[00:07:17]But there's old Ricky.

[00:07:19]He shows up sooner or later checking things out.

[00:07:26]But he has to be on the lookout, too.

[00:07:29]Too many hawks and coyotes stuff looking for him.

[00:07:33]And at the tree, the deer is just browsing through.

[00:07:44]A little yearling.

[00:07:46]They just about on their complete own.

[00:07:52]But this looks like old Dirty Dan for sure.

[00:07:58]The Dirty Dan clan is not moving around much this week, but don't Dirty Dan was.

[00:08:05]And the little squirrels just playing, having a good time.

[00:08:12]And up at the rock, there's little Woody, little wood thrush, right in front of the camera.

[00:08:22]Ain't he pretty?

[00:08:26]And he seems to be fascinated with the camera every year.

[00:08:30]He'll just sit and stare at it, wondering what it is.

[00:08:35]And there's a beautiful male cardinal.

[00:08:39]Ain't they beautiful? And they sing so beautiful all day long.

[00:08:46]Beautiful little bird, little songbird.

[00:08:53]And there's a little ground squirrel.

[00:08:55]Maybe that's Chucky.

[00:09:01]And the old squirrel, Ricky, looks like him just stretched out here on his perch, taking it easy.

[00:09:10]That is until an old feral cat comes through here.

[00:09:19]They just checking things out.

[00:09:33]Looking for Mighty Mouse.

[00:09:38]And the only thing I've seen for these groundhogs, they've just coming through and going back.

[00:09:43]Different angles of them.

[00:09:46]They didn't hang around on the patio this week.

[00:09:49]They take them kind of spell.

[00:09:52]Rather see them sometimes, and then sometimes they They right in front of the camera all the time.

[00:09:58]They just coming and going.

[00:10:02]There he is.

[00:10:04]On his way out.

[00:10:08]Old Dirty Dan.

[00:10:10]At the back door is a little ground squirrel gathering leaves.

[00:10:18]He must be making him a nest, too.

[00:10:25]Hard to catch them stuff like this.

[00:10:30]But here's an old cat looks like.

[00:10:38]Nope, that's a deer.

[00:10:40]Right behind the rock motel on the back door. Duck his head down over the rock.

[00:10:44]There's a little old feral cat looking for that mighty mouse.

[00:10:50]They smell them.

[00:10:52]They just keep hunting for them.

[00:10:56]And there's old Dirty Dan coming through. He ain't wasting no time, either.

[00:11:04]And down at the pond here's what the pond looks like.

[00:11:09]Peaceful place.

[00:11:10]On both cameras.

[00:11:12]And the weeds just seem to be slowly taking over.

[00:11:17]Unless these little animals step right in front of the camera they don't trip them.

[00:11:22]But here you see a little bird here.

[00:11:24]Ain't it beautiful?

[00:11:28]Beautiful bird.

[00:11:31]And a little cardinal female enjoying its morning.

[00:11:40]And another wood thrush. Nope. This is a thrasher.

[00:11:44]They look similar, but they're not.

[00:11:46]Thrasher reminds me of a roadrunner.

[00:11:49]And a little squirrel.

[00:11:52]They enjoying their day here, too.

[00:11:56]And when it comes dark the old just coming out the den tree saying what's going on.

[00:12:07]They coming and going.

[00:12:09]There's No Tail and his crew starting their shift.

[00:12:16]But they seem nervous, too.

[00:12:19]Always looking out.

[00:12:23]But they do what they got to do.

[00:12:27]And the little possums they love it now cuz all these bugs are out. They love to get them.

[00:12:37]And so do them old coyotes. They love to get them all.

[00:12:42]They relentless.

[00:12:44]Always hunting and tracking.

[00:12:48]Sad thing is they catch one of these little animals vulnerable they don't show no mercy.

[00:12:56]But they're part of nature. Nothing we can do about it.

[00:13:01]But the deer do what they got to do at night just like they do during the day.

[00:13:13]The old doe you can see them here.

[00:13:19]Looks like she's heavy with fawn.

[00:13:22]And I hope we have some good fawns this year.

[00:13:26]And here's a raw capture of a screech owl in a tree doing some hunting.

[00:13:32]Watching them field mice.

[00:13:35]And he'll get them, too.

[00:13:39]And right here's one at the acorn pile at night.

[00:13:43]And these owls will get these little mice.

[00:13:48]And there's a possum moving around working around the acorn pile.

[00:13:56]Enjoying his self.

[00:13:59]Looking for bugs or whatever he can get a hold of.

[00:14:14]And down at the salt block at night, there's a making his rounds through. They like his salt block, too.

[00:14:20]And the deer they down here at night just as much as they are during the day.

[00:14:36]And they enjoying their self.

[00:14:38]Unless these coyotes move them off.

[00:14:43]And here at the stump there's two eating on mushrooms.

[00:14:49]That's the reason I can't find no mushrooms.

[00:14:54]The passing through in back of the stump.

[00:15:00]And the possum looking for them bugs.

[00:15:11]And at the cut deer just browsing through.

[00:15:17]On his way to the field, I guess.

[00:15:22]Looks like a fawn there being heavy with fawn.

[00:15:27]And there's another feral cat moving up through the cut.

[00:15:36]And the old coon's moving through.

[00:15:45]And No Tail digging after something.

[00:15:53]Looks like a little barracuda. Don't it?

[00:16:00]The old possum uses it, too, just as much as the rest of the animals.

[00:16:04]And at the tree yeah.

[00:16:08]This is on the routine trail way here.

[00:16:10]They got to check this spot out.

[00:16:15]And here's [clears throat] one chasing bugs.

[00:16:22]They ain't big.

[00:16:24]And here's the feral cats moving around.

[00:16:27]That looks like old tiger there.

[00:16:32]And I don't know what this one is. It ain't Old Yeller. It's got two eyes.

[00:16:37]New cat.

[00:16:43]And then up at the rock motel few coons up here just prowling around.

[00:16:52]But they seem nervous, too.

[00:16:55]They know old Billy Bob the bobcat and Charlie the coyote's out there.

[00:17:01]And the possum, they live here.

[00:17:05]Out doing his thing.

[00:17:11]And sometimes he have to do a little grooming here.

[00:17:21]Ain't that common.

[00:17:24]But you got to check in every once in a while. Go take a nap.

[00:17:34]And they right back out.

[00:17:39]And here's this feral cat looking for mighty mouse.

[00:17:46]He's a watching for it.

[00:17:51]He just settles in waiting.

[00:17:54]I'm going to call this cat Spook.

[00:17:57]Old Spooky.

[00:18:01]But the skunk's here, too. He lives here, too.

[00:18:05]And I hope to see some young somewhere.

[00:18:14]He just doing his skunk thing.

[00:18:17]Leaving his scent.

[00:18:25]He enjoys the patio just as much as Dirty Dan does.

[00:18:38]At the back door, possum moving through.

[00:18:46]And the This is old Scar.

[00:18:50]He's got a hunk out of his back.

[00:18:53]But he's doing all right.

[00:18:56]You can see it right here. Good good view of his wound.

[00:19:01]He seems to be healing up real good.

[00:19:04]And I'm glad.

[00:19:09]But old Spook here coming through looking for mighty mouse.

[00:19:17]And old tiger's here, too.

[00:19:20]Didn't see mighty mouse this week. He stayed hid. He knows what's good for him.

[00:19:27]And up on the ridge, the deer just browsing through on their trail.

[00:19:33]And the coons we know where they're going.

[00:19:37]That's No Tail and his crew going to the pond.

[00:19:41]And the little possum.

[00:19:47]And that looks like Spooky up here on the ridge.

[00:19:57]>> And down at the pond, the coons are always down here, even though they don't trip the camera most of the time anymore.

[00:20:04]But, they enjoy their sale. They're always down here one way or another.

[00:20:08]But, these weeds are only going to get heavy.

[00:20:14]Come down.

[00:20:17]Turkeys off the roost, moving through.

[00:20:24]And a little owl right at daylight. You see the fog moving through.

[00:20:29]Doing some hunting right at daylight.

[00:20:35]For our cabin.

[00:20:39]And a little bird.

[00:20:41]There's a little thrasher doing his thing.

[00:20:49]And a deer.

[00:20:51]They're always up.

[00:20:55]Checking things out.

[00:20:56]Saying hi this morning.

[00:21:03]Just moving through.

[00:21:05]Starting their day here on the ridge.

[00:21:08]Another day unfolds.

[00:21:10]Little animals trying to eat, survive another day.

[00:21:19]Nap time for the little squirrels.

[00:21:22]They do their thing just like any other animal.

[00:21:27]Work hard all day long.

[00:21:31]And they're so comical and relaxing to watch.

[00:21:40]Ain't they beautiful?

[00:21:45]Well, guys, that's just what stepped in front of the cameras this week.

[00:21:49]You never know what will show up in these front of these cameras.

[00:21:53]So, I want to thank you for watching.

[00:21:55]I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[00:21:57]So, take care out there. God bless. And I'll see you next time.

[00:22:19]>> [music]