Critter Mix

Abby Lab here. With an unfenced side yard, seen above last winter, (our house was built on two lots, unusual for Chicago back at the turn of last century) we have a number of critters that live there, towards the back of the property where it's quiet. Mom feeds them year-round, though in summer months it's more like an afternoon "snack" than wintertime's breakfast and dinner. She'll fill up just one of the three bird feeders and toss out a cup of "critter mix" and maybe a few peanuts for everyone else. When it's gone they have to forage.

Mom always has fresh water out as well, as with the alley being gravel, the mud puddles when it rains are really dirty. They have pretty much figured out that I can't get out of the fenced part and barely look up when I go out.

If Dad takes me out for a walk, we go out the front so we don't alarm them.

Usually, it's the 6-8 squirrels that live in the trees and Mr. Bun, the yard rabbit.  Petey the Possum died of natural causes last year and Dad buried him in the yard, and we have a Trash Panda the size of a Prius that wanders through close to trash day to see if we left one of the Raccoon Bento Boxes open when we put trash inside,  But he doesn't live here as my barking at him usually sends him scurrying.  I only bark at the Trash Panda and the UPS guy.  I'm pretty chill with everyone else.

But yesterday w had a new visitor!  A very small bunny showed up to eat next to one of the squirrels born likely last August as he's still pretty little.  Both of them were very tiny.

But suddenly, everyone ran off!  Who could have shown up to alarm them?

Great . . . Zombie Groundhog

Brains!  Brussels Sprouts!