Critters in the Yard

Another aspect of the seasons in late June and into July is the number of animal critters we see around the yard, just enjoying the banquet of fresh grass, clover, and sometimes flowers or veggies we grow for them.

This contented looking Cottontail was sitting five feet off our back deck the other night.  Luckily he was eating the weeds there where we're planning some new landscaping.  I was able to slowly raise the window to get the picture from the house.

And I saw him again this evening when I was out weeding, at least I presume it's the same one.  I just hope he stays out of the veggies garden.

And straight out the front door, this fat groundhog enjoys munching on the grass.  He rarely seems to go far from the burrow, so I think he's safe just eating grass.

He dashes away underground while our dog sits and looks at the curious creature!

As for the chipmunks, they're a different story.  This one is safe, sitting on a boulder in the old fencerow where  they have dozens of boulders to hide under.  But we draw the line when they head for the house and live under the front porch.  I've trapped five this week, and helped them emigrate from the neighbourhood to more natural surroundings!

This one is definitely not in the yard, but a couple of weeks ago driving home we saw a dark animal swimming in a pond.  We stopped to watch, and by the time we saw the large tail, we figured it was a beaver!

Then it climbed out on the shore a few yards, stood up on it's hind legs, and chewed off a branch.  Not a good picture, but the best I've got.

By the time it swam back out on the pond carrying the small willow branch, we knew we were right.  We've never seen a beaver this far south in Ontario, though we know they're around.

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