We're in the woods and are noticing an increase in the wildlife getting close up and personal, too. LazyBee, I'm not far from you so I know you've also been experiencing this horrific heat and - until today - little rain.
DH thinks it's the need for water that's making the wildlife so unafraid. We've caught squirrels in our garden, they're stealing tomato's left and right. A red fox recently strolled through our yard until it saw my daughter and then it froze. We knew they were in the area but - as we have several large dogs - have never seen them in the yard. The deer - it's at the point where we can just walk out the door and pet them - but we DON'T!
We began putting out basins of water at the very edge of the woods in the hope that the animals will stop there for a drink and not come into the yard. Of course, the minute we do that we get an entire day of rain! Which I'm very thankful for . . .