Midwest Menagerie (Ella)
@midwestmenagerie.bsky.social
An account where I share my love of nature and animals through incredibly amateur photography. What I lack in photo quality I make up for in whimsy 🩷
I might swear or make an adult joke sometimes so minors begone
mid 20s, she/her
I might swear or make an adult joke sometimes so minors begone
mid 20s, she/her
Pinned
Just fyi, as much as I trust y’all:
if you think you recognize somewhere I post or think you know where I am, no you don’t 🫵
if you think you recognize somewhere I post or think you know where I am, no you don’t 🫵
Ella life update dump:
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
November 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Ella life update dump:
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I think the sky must have heard me and taken this post as a challenge, because not 12 hours after I said “the lights were less intense this year” I was proven wrong
November 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I think the sky must have heard me and taken this post as a challenge, because not 12 hours after I said “the lights were less intense this year” I was proven wrong
Northern lights this year vs. last year
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Northern lights this year vs. last year
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
It’s snowing but at what cost
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
November 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
It’s snowing but at what cost
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
MAMDANI WON WOOHOO
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM
MAMDANI WON WOOHOO
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
My friend who’s not from here wants to go skinny dipping in Lake Superior for her birthday next week as some sort of “renewal” thing she does every year and I’m trying to explain how that’s not a good idea
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
My friend who’s not from here wants to go skinny dipping in Lake Superior for her birthday next week as some sort of “renewal” thing she does every year and I’m trying to explain how that’s not a good idea
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
Look at her, acting all tired as if she raked the leaves herself and didn’t just plop down on the nice pile I made
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Look at her, acting all tired as if she raked the leaves herself and didn’t just plop down on the nice pile I made
The photo isn’t great but it showcases one of my favorite facts about ducks: they can be trans! Specifically mtf.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
October 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The photo isn’t great but it showcases one of my favorite facts about ducks: they can be trans! Specifically mtf.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
Why are her eyes so 🥺
🪶
🪶
October 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Why are her eyes so 🥺
🪶
🪶
There’s a spider that keeps desperately trying to build a web between my car door and the tree I park next to, like don’t you think there’s a better spot for that little buddy?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
October 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
There’s a spider that keeps desperately trying to build a web between my car door and the tree I park next to, like don’t you think there’s a better spot for that little buddy?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
My parents left for a 2 week vacation yesterday and our fridge already broke, lmao 🙃
October 11, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My parents left for a 2 week vacation yesterday and our fridge already broke, lmao 🙃
There was frost on the ground this morning! Winter is almost here
October 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
There was frost on the ground this morning! Winter is almost here
It’s been so wet lately that the mushrooms are flourishing, here are some shaggy ink caps 🍄🍄🟫
October 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It’s been so wet lately that the mushrooms are flourishing, here are some shaggy ink caps 🍄🍄🟫
There needs to be a word for people who are family-adjacent to you. Like the family of your family. People you see at birthdays and recognize in the store but aren’t really connected with.
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
There needs to be a word for people who are family-adjacent to you. Like the family of your family. People you see at birthdays and recognize in the store but aren’t really connected with.
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
Catching up with my girls over some invertebrates buried in the sand 🪶
October 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Catching up with my girls over some invertebrates buried in the sand 🪶
The place I was staying at had a Karelian bear dog as a livestock/hostel guest guardian and I’ve never felt more safe.
It was like having a bodyguard who wanted to be paid in butt scratches and tummy rubs.
It was like having a bodyguard who wanted to be paid in butt scratches and tummy rubs.
September 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The place I was staying at had a Karelian bear dog as a livestock/hostel guest guardian and I’ve never felt more safe.
It was like having a bodyguard who wanted to be paid in butt scratches and tummy rubs.
It was like having a bodyguard who wanted to be paid in butt scratches and tummy rubs.
I saw this sign a few days ago and I was reminded how deeply unserious and strange the place I live is.
I love it so much.
I love it so much.
September 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I saw this sign a few days ago and I was reminded how deeply unserious and strange the place I live is.
I love it so much.
I love it so much.
I regret to inform everyone that my dog is the prettiest dog in the world
September 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I regret to inform everyone that my dog is the prettiest dog in the world
I’m staying at a hostel this weekend that’s on a farm and I’m having trouble discerning the level of crunchy that the owners are.
Like do you just try to eat organically or are you unvaccinated and don’t allow pasteurized milk on the premises
Like do you just try to eat organically or are you unvaccinated and don’t allow pasteurized milk on the premises
September 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I’m staying at a hostel this weekend that’s on a farm and I’m having trouble discerning the level of crunchy that the owners are.
Like do you just try to eat organically or are you unvaccinated and don’t allow pasteurized milk on the premises
Like do you just try to eat organically or are you unvaccinated and don’t allow pasteurized milk on the premises
This time of year really reminds me how enviable the bear lifestyle is.
Swim in river. Catch and eat fish. Get big. Sleep for 7 1/2 months. Wake up skinny again. Repeat.
Swim in river. Catch and eat fish. Get big. Sleep for 7 1/2 months. Wake up skinny again. Repeat.
September 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This time of year really reminds me how enviable the bear lifestyle is.
Swim in river. Catch and eat fish. Get big. Sleep for 7 1/2 months. Wake up skinny again. Repeat.
Swim in river. Catch and eat fish. Get big. Sleep for 7 1/2 months. Wake up skinny again. Repeat.
It’s Fat Bear Week eve, make sure to leave 80-90 pounds of raw salmon out for the bears when they visit!
September 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It’s Fat Bear Week eve, make sure to leave 80-90 pounds of raw salmon out for the bears when they visit!
Eva’s catching some rays
September 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Eva’s catching some rays
Alas, I did not see any moose yesterday despite searching for almost 7 hours. The only trace of them I found was some old tracks. It’s amazing how elusive they are for being so massive.
September 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Alas, I did not see any moose yesterday despite searching for almost 7 hours. The only trace of them I found was some old tracks. It’s amazing how elusive they are for being so massive.
Going to look for moose this weekend, wish me luck in seeing one/not being killed by a moose
September 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Going to look for moose this weekend, wish me luck in seeing one/not being killed by a moose