Pier Bunnies, Fat Squirrels and Green Tomatoes!

Recently, I noticed that my large tomatoes were disappearing from the bushes before they would ripen. Of course, there were the bird pecks in the red ones and an occasional telltale sign that a mouse had dined, but the large green tomatoes were inexplicably nonexistent on some plants. Just days before, these bushes were loaded with very large, very green tomatoes. Every day, I noticed one was missing and soon the bushes were beginning to become bare. "This must be the work of the raccoons!" I mumbled to no one in particular. Something had to be done about those pesky raccoons!

I pondered this fact for the rest of the morning. How could I salvage the few remaining tomatoes short of picking them green and letting them ripen in the window. Ezzy, the dog, stays inside at night so her raccoon-chasing has been limited to those that wander through the yard during the late afternoon hours. Being nocturnal gives these animals an edge for stealing whatever fruit and vegetables they want from the garden. I have yet to see a fence that will withstand the wile of a raccoon! Then late this evening, I went for my usual stroll around the yard and found my culprit. The thief was not a raccoon but a squirrel! There in the Mimosa (aka Albizia) Tree was the fattest squirrel that I have ever seen! And there propped in the fork of the tree was my green tomato! That rascal has been steeling my tomatoes right under Ezzy'z nose! So much for being a watchdog! In all fairness, it has been extremely hot recently and this has made the dog drowsy most of the day. Obviously, the squirrel has not been drowsy! My tomato!

Continuing on my walk, I was happy to see our friendly, little marsh rabbit. This little bunny has lived under or near the base of the pier since it was a tiny tot no bigger than a dust bunny! I had worried a bit that the Red-tailed Hawk had this one in its talons the other day and that I would never see it again. Not so..the pier bunny is alive and kicking! It was out eating the tender grass shoots and eyeing the mutt that was headed its way!