Mystery Riddle

What has big ears, is brown all over, and takes the output of your hard work?  The answer to this ridfdle will solve the mystery of the missing corn cob. Answer to follow.

Dumb Ass Squirrel Has Competition

Empty Squirrel BungeeSomething lurks in the darkness of the night. What it is I am not sure. I have some suspicions, but have not verified them. The corn cob bungee continues to entertain us regularly. It also makes work for me. I now go around the garden pulling young plants. Corn sprouts are everywhere. I knew the critters couldn’t be eating that much corn. 

A  mystery has developed. I left the last empty cob hang for a few days because I couldn’t get to it. Now, the cob is gone. The bungee cord hangs empty. What in the world eats corn cobs? I’m afraid to go out for fear that whatever it is might eat me too.