I heard foxes in the park this evening when I was walking Merlin. First I'd heard! That park butts up against a creek that runs to various woods throughout and outside town. I've seen an otter run from the creek and into the pond in the park and deer walking into the park, so foxes venturing in there wouldn't be a surprise. I try not to walk there too late in the evening any more though, I'd be too worried about spotting a coyote.

I never had any tortoises live longer than a year. The ones who lived next door to me at my Florida house, we marked them so we could recognize them. A couple of them were probably 30 or more years old from their size. WE were always most excited to see babies!

My friend has budgies currently. She's had them for years (mostly because she doesn't want to break her heart on rats again). She's promised when I move back to Florida that we'll put up a fence for my dog(s).