Guess Who Came to Dinner

So when the solar fountain stopped working and the pond plants were laid to waste, suspicion initially fell on a neighbor's dog. Not only was this dog allowed to roam the neighborhood at will, he was twice caught at the scene of the crime.

A fence and barricade were put up to keep the neighbor dog out. However, the destruction continued.

It was a puzzlement.

Then one night, as we were turning off lights, locking doors and preparing to retire, we heard a splash in the pond. We rushed out the front door and surprised three intruders who looked very much like this:






This photo was taken several nights later, juggling the camera in one hand and a reading lamp on an extension cord in the other. The fact that these creatures just don't sit still also made things interesting (so pardon the blur).

We have had several raccoon encounters since. It is worth noting that these critters have no fear of human beings. (One of them very boldly sat up on its hind legs, tried to stare us down, then went about its business -- which included fishing plants and snails from the pond and eating them.) They are much larger than wildlife documentaries make them appear. Given that they are also potential carriers of rabies, it's best to keep a safe distance from them.

One night last week, we suffered the raccoon equivalent of the loud party. The critters spent much of the night thumping across the roof, chasing each other through the trees, and eating their fill at the pond. This was followed by an orgy in the driveway. (Among the raccoon's repertoire of sounds are the types of grunts and squeals normally associated with pigs. Judging by the volume and intensity of the grunts and squeals heard that night, those raccoons were getting it on.)

We're now hoping they will take the party somewhere else. Soon.