Being that we live on five acres of wooded area- we have critters. Allow me to point out our property is also backed up to a state park-which is very wooded.We've had deer bed down in our bushes, coyotes and racoons fight for our trash, and we have a resident owl who loves to surprise us with fly-bys, and I swear the thing stalks us.And ,of course, one of our newer discoveries being the bats that have found our mailbox a cozy hidey hole.(since my blog about those, its become a regular thing!)We've had more incidents with skunks than I care for, between getting under the house and spraying (yes, it DOES get inside.. for weeks!) and the dog thinking its some weird cat to play with.
I've had the bird feeder battles with the squirrels, and have found the results of having an active outdoor cat buried in the never ending leaf piles. (in case you don't have the joy of an outdoor cat, this would be the remains of whatever mouse, bird, chipmunk or squirrel he was able to catch that day,and decided NOT to hide under the drivers door of my truck.its love.)
The second year we were here I had the surprising discomfort of spotting a huge black panther slinking through the back areas- headed to the lake. I was presumed a true lunatic by my neighbors, until one actually almost hit it in the road. Thank goodness, haven't had that pleasure again.
We've had reports of bobcats on our ATV trails as well, though haven't been fortunate enough to bump into one.
Most of these critters are very brave. they make their way under the motion lights on the front porch somehow, straight up to the front door. the tease of my gardening supplies and bird seed is the most likely reason. No matter how well closed up the seed is, they have to try.
The past few months, we haven't had much trouble with critters on the porch. they've decided my bird seed is beyond them (until its in the feeders) .
This past week, however, I went through 3 nights of crazy with the dog. once all the lights were off, and hubby got to snoring, I'd make my way to the couch. The dog would have his nose crammed into the small gap under the door, whining and sniffing, then run into Daughter's room, for a better view out her window.
aargh dog, go lay down!
no good.
seems my noticing his distress made it worse. ok fine, it the cat out there?
turn on the light, nothing.
dog's crazy.
On the third night of this midnight circus with him, I got up and looked out the window, and there was something on the grill. I figured it was the cat, wanting to come in from the rain.
I open the front door, leaving the screen shut, and turn on the outside light.
theres a Opposum sitting on the grill!!
And it stayed there. like it owned the place! just looking back at me.
the dog is frantic. he won't bark because its so late (he knows better unless someones trying to get in) but he's whining and circling my feet, "lemme out lemme out"
so I did something genius.
I keep a spray bottle handy in the house, for the dog and cat when they get too wound up or cranky- a squirt of water and all is well again.
so I got my spray bottle, and sqirted the possum through the door.
I kid you not, this thing was completely unphased.
I gave it a few more good shots, and the last hit it right between the eyes-
it didn't like that.
It slipped backward off the grill . . . and ran straight for the front door where I'm standing with my crazy dog.
EEEK! and slam the front foor.
Lucky me, it jumped off the second step to the door, and into the abyss of items on the front porch, waiting to be sorted for yard sales or garage storage...
I haven't seen it again yet, and the dog has made no repeat circus act of his detecting it out there, so I'm hoping we've convinced it to nest somewhere else- and it isn't hiding in the porch items.
what a nasty surprise I may just get.
