As any gardener can tell you, things happen.
Flowers don’t bloom, leaves turn brown and sometimes…. things pop up without you having any idea how they got there.
Case in point?
The pots on our back deck.
I swear …..
I didn’t plant that.
But it’s thriving all the same.
Sometimes it’s a wonderful thing.
Loyalty, fraternity….
Oh come on, you knew this would be about woodchucks not people.
But sometimes….
Siblings squabble.
And boy….
If looks could kill.
I was finally able to grab a few pictures of our resident buck.
Which is getting harder to do as the summer wears on.
But this father son shot was pretty sweet.
Junior’s antlers are growing.
And it always makes me wonder what the felt feels like.
Naturally there are woodchuck photos.
And some close ups.
We have one lone chipmunk this year.
And yes, those pesky red squirrel babies are still here.
Using our deck railing as a cafeteria.
As well as a toilet.
Yes, I’m talking to you.
Clearly your mother didn’t tell you not to shit where you eat.
Bad form. Very bad…..
I was sitting in the living room reading when movement caught my eye.
On closer inspection:
Knowing this was not going to end well, I went outside to chase the little red bastard investigate.
Momma squirrel was back.
When she saw me, she ran.
And I thought, there.
That was easy.
But she wasn’t running because I’d scared her.
No.
She was just looking for a place to stash the apple chunk she’d stolen from the deer.
I found this piece, and 4 others in various nooks and crannies of the table and chairs.
The next morning? 3 more pieces.
So now, everyday when I go outside?
I have to pull half eaten apple pieces out of our patio furniture before the ants descend.
Good times.
I hate that squirrel!
What’s a baby woodchuck to do?
All he wants to do is peacefully munch the bounty thoughtfully provided by that crazy woman in the house.
It’s bad enough his pesky brother shows up….
But then that pesky bird tries to steal his blueberries.
And before you know it…..
The bird calls in reinforcements.
And things go downhill fast.
What’s a woodchuck to do?
Of photos.
But after the post I did the other day, I don’t blame you for wondering.
Babies have grown up.
And venture out daily. Three in the above picture.
They are also getting fat.
Though I can’t imagine why.
I’m sad to say I saw a fox run off with one in it’s mouth last week.
And though momma chuck does her best, nature will occasionally have her way.
She started with 6 children, went down to 4…. and now it’s 3.
Quadruplets are now triplets.
But they’re still fun to watch….
I’m still trying to make friends…
And Momma still needs a good support bra.
So for the past few weeks the half dead mallows that the woodchucks munched to nubs have been soaking up Miracle Grow and sun on my deck table.
They’re coming along, but it’s slow going.
Completely out of reach of little mouths and teeth, they might have a chance.
So when I looked out the window the other day and saw momma woodchuck sniffing around the deck….
Eyeing the plants and poised for action….
I had to laugh.
Stretch all you want.
You and your buck teeth can’t reach them!
Neener, neener.
My little town’s FB page has been lighting up with some interesting sightings lately.
One woman kept posting but no one believed her.
Well….
I’d say that’s pretty definitive proof.
To be honest I’m surprised we’ve never had this issue. We’ve seen evidence of Yogi in our backyard and woods. (and even on the deck one winter. Yikes!) But he’s never raided our feeders, for which I’m grateful.
They’re lovely creatures, but quite destructive.
The sightings continue…. which prompted this latest post.
I’m down with that.
Hi Waldo!
Okay, if you insist.
I caught a couple of nice shots of our old doe in the field.
I don’t know how many seasons she’s seen, and the poor thing didn’t even blow her winter coat this year.
But she comes for dinner every night.
And brings her kids.
Whose little Frankenstein nubs always make me chuckle.
Everyone gets along well.
Except this one.
Who sticks his tongue out at woodchucks.
I guess everyone has a rude child once in a while.
But there’s a woodchuck right behind you.
The deer was oblivious for quite a while.
But when she finally did realize it….
The interspecies communication did not go well.
Chuck – 1.
Deer – 0.
