Wildlife in Waterloo Region
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008You never know what you’re going to see around town, or in the backyard.
I got home yesterday around noon and saw something moving slowly in the yard - at first I thought it was a big fat cat with something in its mouth.. then I saw the creamy white snout and long rat-like tail. It turned out it was a big fat opossum!
Maybe a little dazed with the overcast, foggy day and the mild temperatures..?
Maybe it was just looking for some good stuff with the snow melting.
I’m used to squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, rabbits, skunk and deer close up.
Our dog meets up with the skunks at least twice a year, a meeting that lingers around our place for a good week.
(He usually flies in the door.. and runs right up into our bedroom… landing on the bed before we figure out what has happened.)
Our cats have regular discussions with a grey squirrel that hangs onto our big tree out back, just out of reach …and eggs them on.
Last Christmas we counted 13 deer on the front lawn.
Some winter mornings when I head out to work, a few will be nestled in the snow napping. They will slowly get up and wander off as I start up the car.
By suppertime they’re back, criss-crossing our lawn and the backyard next door.
The fat possum is a first.
I know it doesn’t top those bear sightings we had in the region about a year and a half ago .. ( where did that black bear go?)
But hey, it was quiet moment…just sitting with my five-year-old, and watching this fat little thing move around, then slip through a gaping hole in the fence.. and disappear into the neighbour’s garden.
lisa