Mom leaves out a big dog bowl and a large but shallow plastic Tupperware style container with water in them in the unfenced side yard when it's been a long dry spell for the animals. The birds love them, and the squirrels and the bunny occasionally are spotted drinking out of them. They are always in the same spot and she refills them with fresh water every day, nestling them in some foliage where the animals have some safety.
But the other morning, she was out in the yard, the bigger of the two dishes had been MOVED. It was upright but was completely empty of water and had dirt in it. It was several feet away from where it usually is.
Mom figured perhaps a raccoon was messing with it.
We'd seen paw prints on top of the green garbage tins this last week.
SQUIRREL fur.
Some creature had dismantled a squirrel during the night. There was nothing left but some blood, a couple tiny bones, a tiny bit of squirrel innards, and lots of clumps of fur. Dad got that cleaned up and then let me out.
We didn't know what could have done it. The fence slats are too narrow for a coyote or a fox, maybe a small cat could get through but we have NEVER seen a cat in the yard as all the neighborhood cats know I'm standing guard. Something had to climb OVER the fence to eat the squirrel or swoop down from the sky and get it in the night. We have a motion sensor light - it would just take the squirrel going into the center of the yard, start singing a song from "West Side Story" as the stage lit up and well. . . you know the rest of the story.
You never know what might be lurking out there.
OMD! Your yard could be harboring all kinds of critters!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Very scary...but nice of you to leave out provisions for the wild critters.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteCrikey Abby, give us an update for the upcoming Spookython!!! hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
We swear we were all sound asleep last night and did not come in your yard. But Mom says that the way we three chase those treerats, one of these times we are going to be successful:) Even Timber is a hunteraholic.
ReplyDeleteWoos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber
THIS is the very reason why *I* don't like to go out after dark!! Stay safe, and god speed to the squirrel!!
ReplyDeleteOMD...a serial squirrel killer EEEEK!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Jakey, Arty & Rosy
That is a spooky mystery.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bun was out tonight. Mom knows it's him as he doesn't run off when Mom approaches like other rabbits (she talks to him when she's doing yard work and he kind of knows her voice). He has two spots he likes to hide under some cover and nibble grass and he was back in his usual "evening" spot tonight. Mom was glad he was OK. Abby Lab
ReplyDeleteScore one against the Evil Squirrel Cartel!!! It was probably a hawk like the one that catches birdies in my yard sometimes and leaves clumps of feathers behind. I keep wishing it would catch a squirrel or two!
ReplyDeleteGhostwriter has tales about raccoons (trash pandas) getting into the garbage cans at Cook Forest PA where she and her family used to vacation every year. You had to be very careful not to scare them, because sometimes there was a skunk in there too!
As an owner of small dogs I am always on the look out for predatory birds. That would be my guess when it comes to a culprit.
ReplyDeletemaybe it was a fox-guy? they come into our village now to find more/better food...
ReplyDeleteWatch out for things that go bump in the night - especially this time of year!
ReplyDeletewe had weirdness in our yard too!! We have 6 foot fence with locked gate. We have neighbours on both sides as well as directly behind us. No access for anyone - or so we thought. Yesterday morning we looked out and Chester was laying on the lawn chewing on something we couldn't identify. We went out to check immediately and it was a pair of rather expensive BINOCULARS!!! What the heck??? No idea who or how but we are a bit rattled.
ReplyDelete