Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
Deborah & William Hillyard
 
We receive visits from a variety of critters from chipmunks and squirrels to ground-hogs, foxes, rabbits, wild turkeys, deer and raccoons.  Last summer, the deer ate the flowers from nearly half of my day-lilies.  The ground hogs seem to like tulips and lupins particularly.  While charming, there are several health hazards from wild critters here.  Ticks can carry Lyme disease, Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus and most animals can carry Rabies.  Here are some pictures of animails around the house and garden. 
The first picture shows a wild turkey at the back of the garden, behind the barn.  The second shows part of a family group walking across the front of our garden, then in the third they are on the road, heading up to the open land at the end of our cul-de-sac. 
A couple of raccoons broke into the loft of our neighbor; thankfully, not us.  The house belongs to one of the theaters in the village, and is used, only in season, by the actors.  Thus, it is inhabited only from around late May to early September, and left empty for the bulk of the year.  Unfortunately, it is not well maintained which is why animals find their way in so easily.   
Then there was the day that our neighbors goats escaped, and decided to move into our garden!  Of course, living within the environs of the village, farm animals are not permitted.  Shortly after this, the village council forced the owner to move them outside the village, so they are now on a local farm, which is better for everyone; especially the goats. 
We also have a cat whose name varies over time, but is usually variations on Mrs Moggie Miggins.  She is very friendly and affectionate, and an excellent mouser, which is essential in these rural parts.  Unfortunately, she is also good at catching birds, chipmunks and baby rabbits, that we are able, sometimes, to save.  Her friendly lobster came all the way from Bar Harbor.  She likes to lean up against it when she sleeps. 

The chair on which she is resting is a late 1940s or early1950s beautician's chair, in rather good condition.  Just a little pitting to the chrome.  Early 2007.
Managed to catch a picture of this rabbit eating our lawn.  Well; not exactly a LAWN, more a high concentration of weeds!  We can share!
Here is our semi-pet Groundhog, "Henry".  This is his first year with us (2009/10).  His mother, "Clementine", was with us for six years, living under our barn, but she died in 2009, and Henry moved in.  Although they do like to eat my Tulips, we do not mind having them around.  Of course, we have no idea if he is male, but compared to his mother, he is more aggressive. 
March 19th 2010.  First sighting of the year.  He is back under our barn.   

May 4th 2010.  Seems "Henry" is a "Henrietta"!  She has a baby we have christened Hyacinth. 

June 22nd 2010.  Henrietta has moved on, so we just have Hyacinth.  She is less friendly than Henrietta, and a lot less friendly than Clementine became. 

July 1st 2010.  Seems that Henrietta is still around with Hyacinth. 
Frolicking in the garden.  You can see that she is very proud of her tail!  She is part Maine Coon, but rather smaller, and rather more agressive with other cats, than she would be as a pure bred cat.    May 2010. 
Here she is in contemplative mood.  She will be 14 this year (2010), and has become more of a home cat than she was years ago. 
Select:

Fauna

Our c. 1860 House -

Outside

Our Pet Cat