Bunnies and Possums and Skunks, oh my.

And since we've had deer in the back yard more than once since we moved in, it's almost like a scene from Bambi (without the hunter....)  Quincy's come nose-to-nose with a skunk a few times now, and he broke his leash going after the rabbit, so now it doesn't retract like it should.  He sits at the back door staring out into the darkness, sniffing through the screen, and thinks we're dense enough to think he just wants out to do his business.  

The neighbors have a peach tree, and since they've been away most of the summer, the ground is littered with ripe fruit, making the shared boundary of our yards prime feeding grounds for small animals.  Turning on the 200-watt spotlights on the back of our house doesn't faze them, either.  They just keep munching away.  Not that I want to startle a skunk. 

And speaking of skunks, can someone explain to me the biological, ecological reason we haven't exterminated them all yet?  Mother nature overdid the defense mechanisms there.  Sure, they're cute-ish, but waking up at 3 am to a house filled with skunk musk, cute doesn't cut it.  They'd better be our next alternative fuel source or the cure for cancer if I have to put up with that.  I for one will NOT welcome our new skunk overlords, if it comes to that.

Next thing you know, our yard will be playing host to badgers.  And we don't need no stinkin' badgers.  Porcupines?  Why not?  Vernicious knids?  Sure.  I suspect we might even wind up with a flying monkey or two.

Ah, nature.