It sounds amazing where you live! I have never been to Chicago. I grew up in NE Ohio and we lived out in the middle of no where....it was so cool.

Here in SW Tucson we are pretty much out in the element. So we see deer sometimes, lots of coyotes, rattlers, javelinas, and occasionally a bobcat. We think we might of had a bobcat in the backyard. We have an auto water thing for the dogs and it goes off from time to time when the dogs are in. My mom and son thought they saw one hopping back over the fence but who really knows. She is 83 and also thinks when she calls one of my snakes she comes out of her hide to see "Grandma". but ya gotta love her