The sun is slowing rising over the spring landscape
Scattered spiderwebs glisten in the morning dew
Relentless dandelions cover the grass sporadically
Birds can be heard in the distance now awakening

Freshness in in the air after recent showers
One on natures way of renewing the landscape
Time to add more water to the birdbath again
And replenish all of the feeders and holders

While completing the morning routine outside
There in a small mud patch I noticed something
Tiny tracks unlike those I have seen before
This seems to warrant a bit more investigation

I know most of the bird tracks from before
And those of different animals that have visited
These were not birds, but more like little paws
Smaller than a cat of dog and not shaped the same

I was now quite curious as to what it could be
perhaps the culprit was on the yard camera
After checking at first no sign of anything
Until around midnight it came into view

The striped tail and masked face was there
And at once I knew what had come to visit
For the first time here in view of the lens
Was a new addition of animals, a raccoon

With many different creatures over years
From cat, dogs, deer and even a fox
I can now add this too the growing list
All are welcome in my backyard menagerie