The racoons ranging in our backyards seem to have disappeared--or maybe they just figured out how to get out of trash cans and so don't make so much noise.  Whatever, we haven't been bothered by their shrill cries for the last few weeks.

But I just checked back to see the variety of pictures that readers of T he New York Times have posted about the wildlife that comes to visit.   Cynthia Williams reports: "Thiss little red fox lives in the wooded area by our home near Minneapolis. He seems to be very comfortable sitting on our back step while we run for our camera."