The creature

[F, Calla & Luca]

Today we were having a clear patch before five days of rain, just what we need---sorry Texas but we will send some. I decided to try a few more, okay a hundred perhaps, calendar pictures. The doodles got interested in the base of one of their favorite "maybe we can catch a squirrel"  tree. This is one reason  why taking "simple" calendar pictures is not so simple.

I investigated and found a creature motel. Inquiring snouts were busy at work trying to ferret out the critter. This guy was poking out of a hole, but around the root I saw another hole, perhaps the escape hatch. Vole, mole whatever, any guesses? He was a couple of inches at most I guess.  Needless to say, in my attempt to remove doodles before they had the poor thing, who did not seem frightened,for lunch, and of course to document it for posterity, I hastily changed my camera from sport mode to the wrong setting. But for a change PhotoShop 9 and I made some nifty changes.Why, you can almost make it out! The doodles are on house arrest until I figure out some way to keep them from snacking on the creature. So one little adventure, no decent pictures,  and merely one mosquito bite later here I am. All in all not such a productive session out there in the wilds : )

The tiny creature:

To give some perspective, the hole is about a foot up in the middle crevice with the possible escape route to the left:

Update: I live in northern NJ. Some of you are scaring me to death with foreign critters.

 

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

Interesting. Whatever it is, it's cute!!!! I find whenever I plan a photoshoot for Lola, everything always falls apart and I end up getting nothing accomplished....I've given up for now!!!

Good luck with the mystery creature!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sometimes I get caught up in wondering how many animals I share this property with.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I'm no expert, but I think it is a vole. It seems to me his eyes are too open to be a mole.

Here is a Vole image:

What about a tree rat? Did you see the tail?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I did not see the tail and I will not accept a tree rat. Voles, moles mice, squirrels, chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, rabbits but no tree rats. Is that understood! I have my limits.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I don't blame you! I am sure it is a vole then..LOL!

[F, Calla & Luca]

And Sue said it was cute and tree rats, about which I know nothing cannot be cute. Forgive me Linda because those rats of teacup fame were cute.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

haha, F. I'm glad my comment has such a significant influence!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I only found tree rats living in Australia. Do they even exist in NJ?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, You would know, not me. I just googled tree rat and came up with a picture. You know I don't read descriptions, information, manuals, Picasa tutorials, etc.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm voting for a vole. Sure is cute! And I understand that there can be up to 300 of them per acre... just think about it...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yikes. I must have 267 of them.

[Melody & Bruin]

Moles are UGLY!