Apparently the little critters that wander around on our property think that Doc and I are running a maternity ward in our back yard.

It all started a few weeks ago when Doc noticed a pair of cardinals flying back and forth between the large pine tree and the lilac bush by our back patio. Suspicious, as soon as the female cardinal flew out of the bush, Doc went to investigate. She carefully peered inside and well hidden under the leaves, was a nest with three little speckled eggs. Now I don’t want to say I told you so, but I had been trying to alert Doc that there was some type of construction going on in the bush over a week ago and she just hadn’t paid any attention to me. Since that revelation, we have been careful to give the mother space so she can nest without interruption. We also don’t want the male cardinal that stays close by to attack us.

Everything remained peaceful for a few days until one evening at dusk, Doc opened the back door to let me out and my friend Bunny was in the back yard digging furiously in the ground. ” Uh Oh!” Doc said out loud. ” What’s wrong? ” I asked. ” You’ll see. Go to the bathroom and then tomorrow morning when it is light we will investigate and see if my suspicions are correct.” Early the next day Doc went over to where Bunny had been digging the night before and bent down to the ground. She pulled back some grass and there was a large hole deep into the earth. She stuck her hand in the hole before I could yell “Don’t do that!” She was lucky nothing jumped out and bit her. ” It’s a bunny nest!” Doc said with excitement. ” She is obviously in the family way and about ready to give birth. Grover, you will have to keep an eye on the babies and keep them safe like you did a few years ago.” ” Ok I responded, I will keep that hawk away from all the nests and keep all of the babies safe the best that I can.”

Now if that wasn’t enough to keep us busy, early this morning I heard Doc yell ” Well look at that!” as she peered out the window. I ran over to see what she was looking at and I’ll be darn if there weren’t two racoons running across the back yard with three little baby racoons in tow. ” We need to call in reinforcements, we can’t take care of all these critters by ourselves.” I said. “What do you have in mind”, she asked. “We need a midwife and a nanny ASAP.” I responded. “Grover, it will be ok, nature knows what it is doing. I think it’s wonderful that they chose our yard to have their babies. They must feel safe here.” I nodded in agreement. ” I know I do.”