This weekend, two fellow lake-walkers told us they
had spotted what they said was an *Otter* can this
possibly be?) on one of the ???turtle logs.??? Just before our
arrival, our Mammal of Mystery had slid off and headed
into the lily pads. I???m thinking it was more likely a
Muskrat, or??? heaven help us...a Nutria, but the woman who
first alerted us to the mystery didn't think my description
of a Nutria was a good fit. Whew.

But what *could* it have been? Sorry I can???t give you an actual
description - I didn???t see the animal, and details were vague.
Was relieved to read the post on the Grebe...that the five eggs
were still in the nest...because another lake-walker told us
there was only one remaining egg, causing us to speculate that
our Enigma might have had an especially hearty breakfast. Glad
to have been wrong about that.

Did anyone else see someone furry hanging out with the turtles this
weekend? Or does anyone have a good guess? (It was too small and
geographically inappropriate for a "Nessie" sighting...)

Lauralee Smith
Phinney Ridge, Seattle, WA
rainbird AT blarg.net