Hiss, Growl, Waddle, Flap, Honk, Flutter

Raccoons are on my mind lately.

The kids and I left the garage door open one night last week during a short outing with the dogs. It was dark when we came home, and there he was, right smack in the middle of the garage just a couple feet from the door to our living room.

We quickly retreated and it scampered out, leaving a big slobbery wet hole in the bottom of a bag of puppy food.

A few nights later, our neighbor shared with us a scare she had.

Hearing some loud snoring coming from somewhere outside, she thought my hubby somehow had fallen asleep (passed out??) in the back yard.

She called out his name a few times then went to investigate.

Fortunately it was not my husband, she discovered, but instead was a happily slumbering coon.

Beyond coons, we've had rat friends visit,  boldly trotting along the top of our fence at dusk; and squirrels in the attic and even behind walls.

It's like we're living in a wild kingdom! And I'm sure this is only scratching (clawing?) the surface.

I know the residents of our beautiful hills get visits from mountain lions and those pesky plant-eating deer. And I remember when we lived in Vintage Hills loving the croaking frogs who lived in the stream trickling through the neighborhood.

Have you had an encounter with our town's animal neighbors? Let us know! We will happily share your stories.