Strange things in the back garden...

[Smithy]

For the first time, we've had a badger in the back garden. Beautiful big one who was snuffling around after worms with today's rain. For a Kiwi this was great and the first one I've actually seen (none at home in NZ). And when we lived in Australia we had a bandicoot who called our garden home, and that was very strange.

So what sort of weird and wonderful animals roam around your back garden?

 

[CharlieH.]

Spiders.... lots of 'em. Plus an evil squirrel that stares at me while I'm in the shower.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Ahhh I get Skunks...and racoons.

The skunks are cute, but best not to scare them! Last night while I was sitting on my porch enjoying the cool air, a young skunk was at the bottom of the steps...digging at a tree trunk.

The raccoons, well they run back and forth on my roof on occaision....

 

[Paratrooper]

We get a Red Tail Hawk that stops by every so often, one of the neigbors saw a wild turkey, a couger was spotted last year and the ever over abundant deer.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I have a family of skunks living under my garage, and I have learned thru sad experience not to leave my washing hanging out on the line overnight.

My best friend has a flying squirrel living in her attic -- a monstrous evil creature who chewed up her dad's old Navy uniform to make a bed. We've been trying for two years to rout him out, but he's just too clever for us.

 

[MrNewportCustom]

We have a family of possums the size of dump trucks in the side yard, and squirrels that have the cats cowed to the point where they're afraid of them, living in the cork oak out front.

Spiders.... lots of 'em. Plus an evil squirrel that stares at me while I'm in the shower.

Just where IS your shower, Charlie??


Lee
_______________________

Enquiring minds aren't sure they want to know.

 

[Nashoba]

Well outside the fence we have Deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and all manner of wildlife. Inside the fence we have only a crazy duck (toy) obsessed dog.

 

[CharlieH.]

Just where IS your shower, Charlie??


Lee
_______________________

Enquiring minds aren't sure they want to know.

Indoors, if that's what you want to know. It has a very small window facing the backyard and sometimes I look out and there it is, perched on the fence, peeping through the tiny opening with those fiendish rodent eyes.

 

[Smithy]

...and racoons

I've always wanted to see a racoon, but never been in the right places in the States to see them.

Here's another funny one, back in NZ virtually everywhere I lived was full of these...

...a weta. All of my cats had a habit of bringing them inside and then disembowelling them on the carpet :eusa_doh:

 

[HadleyH]

i have possums, bandicoots (little marsupials), during the day rainbow lorikeets (birds with the most vivid colors ), magpies... and who knows how many others that I don't see ...

 

[Smithy]

rainbow lorikeets

Hadley that's reminded me of our old place off Darley Road in Manly, we had a big, old tree where every morning (around 7am!) the Rainbow Lorikeets and the Cockatoos would have a huge bunfight to roost in the tree. What a racket!

 

[HadleyH]

Hadley that's reminded me of our old place off Darley Road in Manly, we had a big, old tree where every morning (around 7am!) the Rainbow Lorikeets and the Cockatoos would have a huge bunfight to roost in the tree. What a racket!

lol lol i know Smithy!!! I have that kind of racket all the time here lol
... they are cute, I'm always feeding them... and yes, i forgot about the cockatoos; lots of them here.

 

[Smithy]

I don't miss the Huntsmen and Orbweb spiders though

Are you in Sydney Hadley? I take it you are (with all the lorikeets and cockatoos). Great city, still miss it

 

[HadleyH]

I don't miss the Huntsmen and Orbweb spiders though

Are you in Sydney Hadley? I take it you are (with all the lorikeets and cockatoos). Great city

Huntsmen Aren't they horrible????? lol They do live somewhere here too,but they are hiding tho, it's freezing in Sydney ...

 

[scotrace]

Right now we seem to have a mated pair of cardinals.

 

[Smithy]

Huntsmen Aren't they horrible????? lol They do live somewhere here too,but they are hiding tho, it's freezing in Sydney ...

I think one of us is going to have to start a "Living Downunder" thread for the Kiwis and Aussies here. We can talk about all the weird animals, good food and general wackiness!

Scotrace, what's a cardinal? Bird?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

This is probably not so strange...but I saw my first Hummingbird this spring. I don't know how I've missed seeing them in the past. Sitting on my friends patio they surrounded his Hummingbird feeder..and darted at me as I stood up(very territorial!). We added a couple of HB feeders to our garden swing after that experience. Ruby throated birds are now feeding everyday. While watering plants yesterday...a Hummingbird continuosly dove through the water mist. My son came to watch...and we were both thrilled that a baby HB (about the size of a big bee) joined in. Amazing...friendly creatures! They can even hover upside down. I can't get over watching them!
HD

 

[Fletch]

...a weta.

Looks like a land-based crawfish. Do the taste good if you boil them with plenty of cayenne pepper and salt? Or are they pretty much just cat food?

 

[Smithy]

You could try Fletch but you'd probably be the first to ever try lol

Leave them for the cats I'd say

 

[J.S.Udontknowme]

I see squirrels, doves and bluebirds during the day and just before dark, rabbits and sometimes a deer. These are the only ones I see regularly, but I've seen black snakes, raccoons, skunks, 'possums, a fox and a hawk. I see groundhogs every day, but not in my back yard.