Franklin Tennessee Wildlife… As Close As Your Own Backyard

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One of the things I absolutely love about living in Franklin is that I can drive less than 10 minutes from home and find every convenience imaginable.

Even better, I can drive less than 10 minutes from home and find myself in the most beautiful country — rolling hills, vast open spaces with horses, cows, bison, buffalo and corn fields.

It’s truly the best of both worlds.  I love to take a drive and see some of the beautiful scenery, and I often come across a family of deer or turkeys somewhere along the way. But that’s not all…

My son and I live about 2 miles from the downtown square in Franklin — in a neighborhood nestled between Highway 96 and Liberty Pike.

There are several small subdivisions nearby, as well as Liberty Elementary.  It’s not rural by any account, but I’m amazed at the variety of wildlife I find in my backyard!

Franklin, TN Wildlife:

I see bunnies nearly every morning, nibbling on my grass and occasionally my flowers.  They’re the norm.

Birds and squirrels too. They’re a dime a dozen, right?

Well, last summer while my parents were visiting for a week in July (they are my witnesses), we looked out back and to our surprise… a deer!  Yes, it was the strangest thing.  How she managed to find her way behind my property is beyond me, but there she was.  Haven’t seen her since, but it was quite the sight.

Since then, I look hoping to see more deer, but to no avail.  However, I was driving downtown around the square one day and spotted an entire family of deer in an abandoned parking lot near an old cemetery.  Very odd.

About a month ago I was fixing breakfast in the kitchen and noticed something out of the corner of my eye.  I thought it was a dog running along the back of my property fence, but I took a second glance and I couldn’t believe it…a fox!  Of all things… bushy tail, thin reddish body, pointed ears. There was no doubt.  I’ve seen him several times since, and a couple neighbors have even spotted him roaming our street.  He apparently lives behind my house somewhere.

Yesterday, I was getting ready for church and saw something in my bathroom mirror, which reflects the window looking out back.  I thought I saw a herring, but didn’t have my glasses on.  I threw them on and turned for another look and there he was… a big ol’ turkey!  It was the craziest thing.  He was all alone, but I have no idea where he came from.  I have seen groups of wild turkeys down Franklin Road from time to time, but in big open fields with tree lines.  Not this time…

This morning, I saw another wild animal.  But I couldn’t get a good look at his tail, so I’m not sure if it was a beaver or a groundhog.  Regardless, what a strange place to see the little guy.

I have a pond in my backyard and wonder if maybe the sound of the waterfall attracts animals. I don’t know.  But I do know this:  Every day, I feel blessed to live here.  And I’m reminded so often of Franklin’s beauty and character in the little things.

If Franklin is on your list of places to visit or potentially live, you can’t ignore the incredible value of both convenience and serenity in the same place.  It’s amazing!

 

Other Tennessee Wildlife

Non-Game Wildlife In Tennessee – Fun facts about frogs & toads of Tennessee, as well as salamanders and snakes that call Tennessee home. Lots of info about Tennessee birds, plus endangered species and more.

Tennessee Wildlife Magazine – read more about Tennessee’s wildlife in print.