Wildlife on the Farm

Wildlife on the Farm

By: Amanda Moser

Lavender Hill Farm’s picturesque natural landscape is home to many different types of wildlife. From birds to mammals to reptiles to insects, you can spot any number of wild animals on our 33-acre farm. We take great care to respect these critters’ natural habitat and work hard to create a harmonious relationship with our furred and feathered friends. The farm is open to the public from 10am-5pm daily and free to explore.

 

Birds

Eastern kingbird

Birds are by far the most common animals spotted at Lavender Hill Farm. In fact, they are so numerous that we host a guided Walk with the Birds tour to highlight all of the different kinds of birds that can be seen in our fields.

Baby robins

You’re likely to find waterfowl such as ducks and geese, birds of prey, wading birds, and many different types of songbirds.

 

Did you know? Many birds are sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females of the same species are visually different from each other. Typically, males will exhibit bright, colorful plumage to attract females, which tend to be more plain in coloration.

Male red-winged blackbird

 

Female red-winged blackbird

A fawn waits patiently for its mother to return while hiding in our sunflower field

Mammals

There are lots of different mammals found around the farm. Our favorite is a little ground squirrel who lives under the barn! We have also been lucky enough to spot mammals such as white-tailed deer and red foxes in our fields. Be sure to check out our walking trails for a chance to see these animals yourself!

A ground squirrel enjoys some lavender ice cream

 

Did you know? Ground squirrels are often mistaken for chipmunks but can be easily differentiated by the stripes on their head. Chipmunks lack stripes on their heads, while the ground squirrel’s stripes run from head to tail!

A red fox visits the farm during winter
A frog catches some rays

Reptiles & Amphibians

The beautiful pond on our property is home to a variety of reptiles and amphibians. If you look closely near the water’s edge, you’ll be sure to spot plenty of frogs, turtles, and even snakes! While they may not be the cutest animals on the farm, they are an important part of the local ecosystem and food chain.

A garter snake in the grass

 

Did you know? Garter snakes are the most common snakes found on the farm. Their presence may be off-putting to some, but they are actually completely harmless! They also play a vital role in managing pests such as mice and rats.

 

Insects

Lavender naturally repels pests like mosquitoes and ticks so you won’t see those at the farm! There are a lot of other cool insects that can be found though. When the lavender is in bloom, the buzz of bees is constant as they fly from plant to plant. Honey bees are not typically aggressive towards humans; they are much more interested in collecting pollen to take back to their hives. Many other pollinators can be found on the farm, including the Monarch butterflies that stop by during their yearly migration every fall.

Monarch butterfly
A honey bee collecting pollen

Did you know? Lavender is a superfood for bees! In fact, they love lavender so much that we’ve decided to put them to work for us! We have several beehives located on our farm where we harvest our own lavender honey produced by the resident honey bees. Lavender Hill Farm Honey is available for purchase at our gift shop and online!

 

Make sure to stop by Lavender Hill Farm this summer and snap some nature and wildlife photos yourself! Don’t forget to tag us and use our hashtag #LHFarm!