I learned today that the name raccoon comes from the Algonquin word arakun, which means one who scratches with his hands. The fellow in the photo showed up early—the first diner at our all-day critter picnic—and lived up to his name. Unfortunately, he was joined by not only the usual squirrels and chipmunks but also the guy below...
...a woodchuck, or ground-hog, who started nibbling our perennials. He had a lot of swagger to him. He just stared at us and kept chewing as we got within several feet of him. Our dahlias are suddenly in grave peril. Any suggestions on how to non-violently persuade him to move elsewhere?
The raccoon asked for a feeder refill (sorry, pal!) before heading off to enjoy his Memorial Day holiday. I hope you all enjoyed yours.