Fun times

Let the big dogs out just after 6am this morning and noticed insulation, shingles and plastic on the ground at the back of the house.  Took a minute for the reality of what had happened to hit me, but obviously *something* had been trying to get into the attic during the night.  The dogs sniffed around, then went about their business.  Seems they weren't too awfully impressed.

Oldest daughter got up shortly after I did, and said that she'd heard a lot of noise in the attic over her room, at around 4:30am or so.  When Gary got up and after he'd showered (figured I'd give him a bit of time before spreading the news), he saw that the hole in the roof was big---probably 8 or more inches across, at least.  He went up into the attic (which I'd never have the nerve to do), and saw a white animal all curled up under the hole it'd made.

Long story short---he poked at it, and being that it was very docile, it just very quietly got up and crawled out of the hole---well, after it moved around a bit.  I think Gary'd woken it up.  Then it went to the old heating chimney, but didn't have access to the attic from there, so went into the hole again.  After doing this several times, and getting shot at by second son's BB gun, it finally ran off.  And, no, it didn't get hurt, but what are you going to do, huh? 

When oldest daughter got a look at it crawling around on the roof, I said that it looked like a fox as it climbed out, then she said it looked like a big possum.  Well, it turned out to be an albino raccoon.  So beautiful, but much better looking as it ran into our neighbor's yard than it had on our roof. 

That's our excitement for the day. :)  Roof repair work to be done later.  The grill lid makes for a very handy roof cover in the meantime. Figure we'll hear it clatter to the concrete patio if the critter comes back. 

(not our photo...ours was cuter)