Step into the Wild Challenge - Day 22

Day 22 - Neighbours

About once a week when we go to take our dog Sally for a walk late at night, we’ll run into 3 or 4 deer walking down our road. That may not seem strange, until you learn we live in a fully developed neighbourhood in the city.

In addition to deer, we see fox, skunks, racoons and possum from time to time and it reminds me that we share our neighbourhood with the animals who also call it home. There is new development going on within a few miles of us and the animals are being pushed out. This is all the more reason we need to create habitat for these animals that are losing their homes, or at least be trying to live side by side with them.

Gardeners often get upset when they come out and find their plants have been “raided” by a night-time visitor… Rabbits, and groundhogs and deer eat plants, birds and racoons raid our fruit trees. Snakes and toads can startle us when we come upon them suddenly. I catch myself getting frustrated at times, but then I take a deep breath and try to remember why I love my garden so much, and remember that it’s a privilege that I can share this earth with so many other living creatures, whose home it is as well.

What animals to you see in your neighbourhood? Do you consider them pests or neighbours?

Did you know that Possum eat ticks by the thousands? It's one of their main food sources. I know I'll invite them into my yard anytime :)