Wild Life Here at Home

Saturday before Easter while some of us were finishing up breakfast, my son noticed this squirrel coming up from behind the gas grill to perch on the rain gauge. I quietly, and slowly turned around, as my back was inches from the patio door that was about 3 to 4 feet from the perched rodent, so as not to startle it.

I called for my husband to grab the camera just to see if he might get a picture or two. We gazed in amazement as this little furry critter sat very still, barely moving for at least 10 minutes while we watched, chuckled (wondering if this was a "potty break"--or what? We never saw any evidence of such.), and wondered how he (or she) could be so calm and unconcerned that three huge humans were in such close proximity. It didn't bolt when it did move, but eventually made its exit into the yard.




Then a day or two later, after moving the garbage cans to the road for pick up, I spotted this bristly critter. I thought it was black, until I inspected it further. It might be primarily black, but at the base of its spines, it appears to be a very dark green in spots. You might not be able to detect that green color from this picture, for which I truly mourn, but I promise they were there! It never moved that I could see, either. I must be sooooooo intimidating. Sorry! I don't think I've ever seen a larger caterpillar in my life! It was so fat and so long. The piece of pine straw at the bottom of the photo is about 3 to 4 inches long.