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When you’re a housebound cat, squirrels on the patio furniture are the ultimate tease.
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So close!
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Poor Dudley.
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Even Momma Red got in on the game.
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His Lordship was actively cackling when she showed up.
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So close, and yet so far.
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Mother red squirrel was perched in the boxwood this morning.
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And though I could have chased her out…
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She was happily munching so I let her be.
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As long as she’s not trying to take up residence in our house again?
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I suppose I can call a temporary truce.
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Have you ever had an oh shit moment?
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The look on this woodchuck’s face says he’s about to have one.
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I want to stay mad at them.
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But when they’re this damn cute?
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It’s hard.
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They’re leaving my flowers alone for now.
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And seem to be satisfied stealing the deer apples.
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Cute little buggers.
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We had a spell of wicked dry weather this summer. No rain for weeks… so everything was brown and dry.
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Including the chucker family. They’re too short to reach the bird bath I kept filling, so I took to offering them a drink on their level.
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I’d never watered woodchucks before and wasn’t sure how they’d take to it….
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But the poor thirsty things ran right to the bowl as soon as I walked back into the house.
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Guess they needed something to wash down those weeds.
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I don’t often catch the baby woodchucks nibbling my flowers but this little dude was quite brazen.
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Strolled right up on the deck and started chewing the bloomless petunia I’d transplanted from the garden to a pot because they were eating it.
Yeah.
That worked well….
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In life, you sometimes have to fight for what’s yours.
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And if you’re a baby woodchuck, you have to fight birds.
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They’re always in the way…
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And always eating your food.
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At times, you’re outnumbered.
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And when that happens?
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You call in reinforcements.
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When the nightly buffet of apples and deer grain is laid…
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I also put out some special grain free dry dog food with taurine for the fox and skunks.
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Problem is the woodchucks and ducks like it as well and scarf it up quickly.
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But sometimes they have competition.
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And a stand off with Starlings begins.
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Sometimes it gets physical.
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Every night at dusk, the skunks show up.
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It’s usually too dark to take pictures through the window, but last week they arrived early.
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And trust me, they really are fun to watch.
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Of course, sometimes….
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They don’t get along.
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And it’s on!
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There’s a lot of squealing….
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A lot of posturing and tail raising..
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But more often than not….
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They settle in and eat side and side.
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No air freshener required.
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And though it’s not riveting footage, here’s a little skunk video for your viewing pleasure.
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Two baby woodchucks showed up for apples yesterday. ( we put them out for the deer but these little guys are beating them to it )
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The chuck on the right seemed to be annoying his brother with his close proximity.
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Before long they were squabbling.
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And a sibling scuffle ensued.
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Left woodchuck held his ground, as well as his apple.
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And right woodchuck was forced to step aside.
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Family.
What are ya gonna do?
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River's world..... 