Weekend Guests

These guests announced their arrival after dark one night by a good bit of splashing and thrashing and grunting in and around the pond. We turned off all of the house lights to get a good look but, as they were on the other side of the pond we couldn't make out just who or what was there. Suddenly the moose twins dashed across the lawn on the house side of the pond. Mom was trudging behind. I think, because I have seen it before in daylight, the mother was teaching the young to get into the pond.
These three stayed on one part of the property or another for about two days.
The picture that I failed to get was a baby moose, who is not quite window height, checking out Teacake who was in the window. They were separated by the window screen but probably no more than a few inches apart.
All of the animals who come around are not as welcome as the moose. The county licensed trapper carried off 9 raccoons earlier this summer and I imagine we still have a few. The raccoons were eating the duck eggs so, sadly, we have no ducks this year.
We have also just spotted our first muskrat since spring. These guys dig tunnels off of the pond and were responsible for major damage to the terrace. Wasn't there a Carpenter's song Muskrat Love? No love lost on them at all here!