Rounding Up the Usual Suspects

It happened one morning. I came out to my back deck to water the plants and found an unexpected scene. Chair cushions and throw pillows lay everywhere. One of the pillows even had a long tear and white stuffing coming out. I stood a second, watching and listening, but only heard the birds twittering. Who were these neighborhood marauders?

The next morning it happened again. In fact, every time I put the deck back together, the next day, I’d find it taken apart. Even more interesting, whoever did it, had to climb a flight of stairs to get to it.

After three nights in a row, I decided to ask the Connecticut Audubon Society on Facebook, my go-to group for any wildlife question. As expected, they had interesting theories.

“Raccoons,” said several with certainty. Yes, that would explain the nocturnal, “frenzied” nature of this operation. Raccoons love getting into mischief, but what would induce them up a flight of stairs? We don’t eat on this deck, so there would be no food smells.

 “It could be a mother fox with her babies, trying to hide from coyotes.” Of course, that image melted my heart. I can’t imagine trying to protect kits in those scary woods at night. If finding refuge on our deck, helped a mother feel safer with her young, I was all for it.

“Bears,” said someone. I gulped. But this “knocking the cushions and throwing pillows around” seemed too delicate for a large-pawed, clumsy bear. I could see the whole deck coming down. Besides, bears are more interested in the garbage cans that lie below.

“Squirrels,” offered others, but turns out those fluffy-tailed tree runners aren’t nocturnal (I didn’t know that), so they seemed unlikely suspects.

“Teenagers?” someone asked. I’ll admit, the thought occurred to me, but I couldn’t see what would lure teenagers to our boring, little back deck. There also weren’t any telltale signs— cigarette butts or litter—you’d expect from this particular human sub-species.

Finally, someone said, “Spread some flour on the floor and see if you can get prints.” An excellent idea. I decided to try it. That night, I lay out some flour, excited over my sleuthing efforts. Would this mystery finally be solved?

The next morning, I rushed out to find… nothing. Everything was in its place. Not one paw print. Same for the next few days.

Had the party moved on? Had they outsmarted me with their keen animal instincts? Did they prefer almond flour to all-purpose?

The other night it rained and took the flour away. There’s been no sign of anything since.

Sigh. I’ll probably never know what animals enjoyed our back deck. Maybe they’ll return, but so far, nothing. Still, if I can provide a playground for mommies and babies, I’m happy to do it.

Just wish they’d clean up after themselves.

 

 

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