A Younger Generation

It has become part of my life to keep an eye out for the swamp rat movements On cooler overcast days they may visit several times a day and there have been odd periods when we haven't slghted one for over a week. but eventually they return

One day I noticed what looked like a very pregnant swamp rat

In fact quite rotund............

. ...........whichever way you looked at her

Then one morning a very small rat appeared to have followed its mother but as soon as it emerged from the flowerpot she chased it back the way it had come

He obviously was smart enough to give his/her mother the slip and returned alone to see what she had been so jealously guarding

Still only lone rats...........

Until one morning this little pair of very juvenile wanderers emerged from the tunnel tracks

I'm sure they must have been siblings, as they kept very close to each other

It's a wonder I ever get anything done with such images to try to capture

I have noticed that the juveniles appear to have pointed ends to their tails while the older swamp rats have distinctly stubby ends. Is it possible that the shape of their tails change as they get older?

So many questions - so many points to ponder If anyone can add to my knowledge base I would be most appreciative.

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