Little Critter

A few days ago, after I came home from work, I decided I should fill up the bird feeder. I've not been consistent with putting out bird seed, and I do enjoy watching to see which birds show up. So I went out the back door from the mudroom and proceeded to retrieve the empty bird feeder and take off the top. I heard a scritchy- scratchy sound behind me and turned to look.

I spotted this little fellow clinging, spread-eagle, to one of the battens on the house.

He was clinging by his tiny toes and would move just a little at a time. He was quite high up, as maybe this next photo will show.

He is up close to the roof line, way above the height of windows and my clothesline. I thought maybe he had scurried up there to get away from one of the cats and was now a bit stuck about how to come down. My son was already home and I called him out to have a look. (He indulges his mother's fascination with all things furry or feathery). We decided to help him out. As son is taller than me, he extended a large push broom above the chipmunk which caused the little guy to shimmy down a bit. He continued to move the broom downwards a little at a time so that the chipmunk kept skittering down. Eventually he was low enough to the ground that he pushed himself off the wall and ran away.

Could he have done this himself? Likely, but he was so little, I thought perhaps he was too young to make a huge leap without injury.

The bird feeder, incidentally, was filled and promptly ripped down that night and emptied of its contents. I am quite certain we are dealing with raccoons again. Lord, I despise raccoons on my property. Those nimble toes are so very good at being destructive.

It is the weekend, and I am hoping for a little more warmth and a little less rain. I have a growing list of outdoor chores that need doing and I'd rather not be wet or bundled up to do them. My vegetable garden is currently empty and I should really have potatoes in by now. How goes your outdoor to-do list?