Category Archives: Critters

A Scurry of Squirrels (HA 74)

Posted on May 30, 2020 by sputterpub

A month ago, the music of the birds was serenade from dawn to nearly noon. Today to put the garden sound in words, I hear the insect buzz and squirrel zoom. The bees are drinking salvia and flies are bumping … Continue reading →

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The Neighbor’s Cat

Posted on March 30, 2020 by sputterpub

The neighbors have a cat that lives outside as if it were an apex beast of prey, evolved to wanton feats of avicide, and tearing plants his collar pulls away from trellises or tangles with the hose, refining talons scoring … Continue reading →

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Opossum Love

Posted on March 11, 2020 by sputterpub

At 6 a.m. one day last week, I heard a thump outside the window where I sat. I raised the shade to see what had occurred, and spied a pair of ‘possums going at it, either sex or play or … Continue reading →

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Exampling Spider

Posted on October 8, 2019 by sputterpub

A three-month project, overrun to eight, is nearly at an end, but truth be told, the bulk of it was not accomplished late. I hung at ninety-five percent, controlled by winter trains and summer-found defects, by workmen moving on to … Continue reading →

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One Sad Day

Posted on July 16, 2019 by sputterpub

Perhaps the year was 1999, the season fall, a Sunday afternoon. While window-shopping with a friend of mine, our focus was enticed by a balloon affixed above a cage the Shelter set upon the sidewalk, graced with pretty strays. A … Continue reading →

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Good Neighbors

Posted on December 10, 2018 by sputterpub

Two skunks made babies in my yard last week, assuming that was reproductive sex: two poufs of jet bisected by a streak of white elongating their backs and necks. That’s two months early, says the Internet. Their mating season doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Aviary

Posted on November 13, 2018 by sputterpub

A sparrow flew into my room last week. The doors were open and the weather mild. The creature panicked – flailing wings and beak against three window panes, freaked out and wild, till finally it managed to exit – in … Continue reading →

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The Other Fog

Posted on September 11, 2018 by sputterpub

Had to fog the house to choke summer’s immigrants – rat fleas and rat mites

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Pests

Posted on September 3, 2018 by sputterpub

My neighbor thought that she was getting bites from fleas, although she doesn’t own a pet. When I got bit my research led to mites from rats beneath the house, who must sublet from all the skunks and possums I … Continue reading →

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Birdbath

Posted on August 20, 2018 by sputterpub

Creek seepage to street: a year-round lagoon for a sleek murder of crows.

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