Animals In your Garden

Animals in your garden are going to start hanging out in your backyard. Be careful though. Some of them will get into your food. I already lost a zucchini because something came in and ate it. We can close our garden off and put some kind of chicken fence around it. For now we are not going to do this unless the situation gets out of hand. With all the animals in your garden you may start to feel a little like snow white.

Squirrel

Yesterday a squirrel was sprawled on my fence for hours before it got up and left. It looked like it fell into a deep sleep. This is the same scattered creature that will flinch and go crazy at the sight of someone or a small sound. Surprisingly, any noise I made did not distract the squirrel. It was the most calm I have ever seen and very cute.

Rabbits

Rabbits are usually afraid of humans but they are hanging out in my backyard a feet feet away from me sometimes. Recently one rabbit stayed there for dinner. I watched the rabbit eat greens from the ground and clean my lawn. Some of the bunny rabbits are also incredibly cute.

Birds

Birds love flying into our cedar tree. There is a nest high up top of that tree where some of them hang out and chirp. Their sounds in the summer are calming compared to the noisy sounds of the roads in the background. 

Butterflies

Some of the most beautiful colour butterflies are travelling in the backyard and flying away. Monarch butterflies are stunning to look at but they are more common seen. There are some that are a mix of spectacular colours and patterns that once the eye catches cannot move away from.

Recently several small white butterflies have been flying around.

Racoons

On the down side I have also come across racoons and they are not as small and as timid as they may seem. One day there was a lot of banging going on the backyard. I went to see what it was and it was a huge racoon on top of my garbage bin trying to get in. Luckily it could not because we have two bricks on top of them. 

Skunks

Skunks are the kind of animal no one wants around but somehow these creatures are roaming around everywhere. There have been incidents in the morning having to get up and close the windows because the stench of a skunk is ruminating in my bedroom. Skunks are the subtle morning alarm system, silent and violent stench that make you wish to wake up to the sound of an annoying bell over the smell of one of these animals. 

Mouse/Rat

The most upsetting of the animals I have come across so far is either a small mouse or rat. This is when there is a problem. I am shocked to see one of these and not too impressed. I have read that they do not like the smell of peppermint and I have peppermint and spearmint in my backyard. I cannot confirm if that is what it was because it was camouflaged well with the garden. It could have been a small chipmunk, but I am not sure. 

Nevertheless, if there is even a slight possibility of this to be the case action is to be taken. We do not have any traps at home. If this is the case, you have a few options to deter mice away from your home. Spray some peppermint oil in areas you think they are coming from. Place some laundry dryer cloths there as well. Mix some vinegar with water and spray in areas they are coming around. Do this until you can buy some mouse traps and then buy some for now and the future.

In Summary

Animals in your backyard may be a lovely experience or a very uncomfortable one. Be careful about what you grow in your garden and how you throw the garbage away. Animals in your backyard will either feel like a snow white fairytale or an unpleasant setback to growing a successful urban garden. 

August 4, 2022