Back Yard Biology

Our grandson goes through phases of interest.  Oh, mostly they are the usual ones, although the timing and duration of them may be a bit different from the last generation.  Work machines were only a mild interest.  Dinosaurs ruled for a while but now are deader than, well, dinosaurs.

Of late it has been all about nature, specifically small critters.

Mowing the lawn today I spotted and rescued a small toad.  A similar one he caught and released 100 miles north was dubbed "Toad-O" so we'll call him that.  I suppose it is possible that he might be a hatch from the ill starred tadpole project.  Sure, he looks smart enough to evade raccoons, we'll go with that.

I'm delighted that his parents have followed on in the tradition of bedtime stories. Start 'em early and always keep pushing the level of complexity.  Of late they've been reading Charlotte's Web.  Here, scuttling away while avoiding some yard weeding, was undoubtedly Charlotte.

I think she is giving me multiple beady little skunk eyes for disturbing her.

We also have an ongoing interaction with chipmunks.  Ravenous, vandals they are, and present in large numbers.  Another day with them, and under another category....Rodent Peril.