I didn't tell you that the other day when Quackers was out back helping with the trench, our friend the fox showed up.

Quackers made some low noises to let everyone know he saw the fox, and the fox stayed over on his side of the yard, a perfunctory visit by his usual standard.

Later, the fox came back with a dead squirrel to show us.



He's never done this before, usually he buries the corpses on the edge of the clearing while he has a snack here, and then digs them up to carry off home. I don't know if this was some kind of response to the introduction of Quackers into the family.





Yesterday afternoon we were all out back, and a female mule deer showed up, eating the bushes. This is the first deer we've seen all year. Quackers made his low noises to alert us. I don't know why the deer didn't spook when she saw us, but maybe she was curious about the goose.



Once the deer left we took Quackers for a dip in the river, and then we all took a long walk (in goose miles) along the river to the edge of the property. He doesn't appear to have tender feet: walks on rocky soil just as well as smoother surfaces, and he doesn't seem to mind going the distance.

This morning Quackers let me know there was a hawk circling overhead. After it was gone, he huddled closer to the house, and I sat outside with him.