By: roxi bateman

roxi bateman — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:17:54 +0000

Hello Gary, I am new to this site. My first reaction to your skeptic: YOU SHOULD SEE MY BACKYARD. My home is on a 120′x50′lot in the city. 1/2 block off a busy arterial,and 5 or 6 blocks from the Spokane River. A very swift river that runs through the entire city, with spectacular waterfalls. My yard has several fruit trees, is bordered by large trees on all sides. The front yard has a variety of roses, shrubs, and beautiful flowers. Each season full of color and surprise. The back yard although small, is home to 15 pedigree rabbits. We grow corn, many varieties of squash, pumpkins, beans, tomatoes, strawberries, blackberries, cucumbers,(just to name a few). My son and I love to watch and feed the birds. The birds change with the seasons. Hummingbirds love the butterfly bushes in the front, and chick-a-dees stay throughout the winter and spring. We had a large skunk family last summer. A family of 4 raccoons that wandered the neighborhood and startled the teenagers walking about. Owls that come and go, osprey, hawks, woodpeckers (several varieties), goldfinches, ruby finches, and of course the common birds, sparrows and house finch, starlings and crows. I can’t forget the squirrels, that love to chew the phone lines. The kids have made pets out of large turtles walking down the street (up from the river). Our city as recently had moose wander into yards searching for food. We have had deer run through windows in downtown business. Cougars tranquilized from trees, bears too. This is a pretty large city. The home of Expo 74. With all the expansion, and increased population, we still have the blessing of God’s creatures living around us. So I have to wonder: where do the skeptics live?

By: Mike "troll" Dame

Mike "troll" Dame — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:32:37 +0000

i live in an apartment in Antioch with a tiny little patio and we get raccoons, opossums, skunks, lizards, and even a snake once

By: Gayle Reece

Gayle Reece — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:10:24 +0000

I, too, have a “normal” backyard in the midst of the city of Lafayette. And yet, I get visits from the wildside as well! I have a skunk that has a den under my fig tree and worry that my dogs will experience a run in with him/her some early morning. PBS has a new NATURE documentary all about skunks. They can have dens all along their route! Nine or Ten dens! This is a good thing since they are totally unafraid of dogs because of their defense mechanism! Hopefully we can coexist peacefully for many years.

Comments on: You won’t believe my backyard!

By: roxi bateman

By: Mike "troll" Dame

By: Gayle Reece