When the dreams cleared from my head and I realized that I was really awake, I sat up on the edge of the bed to try to figure out what had awoken me. Across the property, somewhere over by Grover's I heard a load clanking sound, like someone throwing pipes against each other. I knew that Grover had been assembling a carport out of 3/4 inch conduit, and had a stack of the pipes laying by his trailer. So, I was looking that way.
By now I could hear Shay barking like she was in a frenzy. First, over by the campfire area, then up on the mountain behind Matt's. I figured that some animal was out there but had all ready run off. I started whistling out the window, over, and over. Of course Shay only comes when it suits her. I thought, she was going to wake up the whole neighborhood. I whistled some more, to lazy to go outside. Finally, I did walk into the living room and out to the porch. I whistled out the door a few times and got the same lack of response. I could hear Shay carrying on, here there and about.
Reluctantly, I put on my shorts and grabbed the 3 celled Mag Lite by the door and headed out to grab the dog.
Shay was now by the fire pit again and barking towards Grover's place. I was making my way there slowly, being bare footed and a big sissy. When I came closer to where the commotion was, I shined the light all around, up into the trees and under the vehicles. Shay was a few feet from me and I still couldn't reach her. As I inched forward, so did she. I wanted nothing more than to quite her so I wouldn't have to listen to the complaints tomorrow.
I was close enough to see the pile of conduits by the deck. Shay was moving that way around the side of Grover's and along towards the back. I was in close pursuit, whispering obscenities and commands in an attempt to be in charge of the lesser beast.
On my right my light caught a glint and a loud growling noise broke the silence. With only six feet between the porch and the embankment, I froze. Like a deer caught in the lights of a car, the split second jumped by before I realized it was Grover being a prankster. In reality it was very scary seeing him in his underwear.
I didn't even respond to him, still sleep walking and my feet complaining about the pea gravel. I just wanted to get Shay and go back to my nice, comfy bed. She was still barking and her hair was standing straight up from here ears to the tip of her tail.
I shone the light towards her, and finally she backed my way to where I thought I could reach her collar. Then I saw the pumpkin eyes 20 feet beyond. I couldn't see what size cat it was, but I knew it was a cat. I strained to verify the size and was shaken at what I determined. I grabbed the dog and hollered to Grover, MOUNTAIN LION!!!
I the spit second that I took my eyes away to grab the dog and look towards Grover, I looked back and the cat was gone. Now I started feeling a bit nervous. Grover came out again and was looking over my shoulder and I was telling him where it had been. Flashing my light up in the huge oak tree at the back of his house, on the third large branch, overlooking us, there she was. Large eyes, ears and tail. Even larger shoulders and paws. She didn't have to growl or crouch, we knew we were the prey and she was the hunter.
Its funny how your mind can override what you thought was painful when real danger is confronted. We both ran to his house, barefooted, and you never heard one complaint.
The question of what to do caused much contemplation. Over 15 cats and one dog had disappeared over the past 3 months. We live in the woods and expect to share the area with all the creatures that live here. But, its very disconcerting to have a cat twice as big as the dog looking down upon you from 30 feet above your head. You know that one bound and a hundredth of a second and you or your animals would be toast.
While we were discussing these points, we hear a concerned voice calling for me. Its Dorothy out wondering what has happened to me. Now I'm scared beyond being able to control my emotions. I really like being in control of those darn things. Here we are inside the house, nice and safe, and Dorothy is outside with a 100 pound lion, unbeknownst to her, over her head. My voice is not shaky, but you can hear the fright and serious anxiety when I shout (an uncommon thing) for Dorothy to get inside.
Immediately, my mind is made up. I cannot live with this kind of constant fear. Everytime one of us goes out at night I would have this same fright and anxiety. I might even become a shouter. That wouldn't do. The cat has to go.
I let Grover know my thoughts. He goes to his bedroom to look out the window and see if he can see the lion from there. He can, and calls for Dorothy to have a look. Dorothy and I go back and we can see that from the window the lion is a mere 20 feet away. The screen seems kind of thin. Grover confirms my decision, and takes his 12 gauge shotgun out the back door and around the trailer. I keep the light focused on her so Grover can see and he does what must be done.
We spend the nest half hour locating the downed animal and Grover notifies the proper authorities. We part ways and finally get back to bed. It feels good. But, sleep won't come easy. To many adrenals flowing and visions of big eyes hanging over my head. Shay must have been having the same problem. About every hour I could hear her give a couple of woof - woofs and her feet would start running. I don't know if she is chasing or being chased.
_________________________
http://www.codx.com
By now I could hear Shay barking like she was in a frenzy. First, over by the campfire area, then up on the mountain behind Matt's. I figured that some animal was out there but had all ready run off. I started whistling out the window, over, and over. Of course Shay only comes when it suits her. I thought, she was going to wake up the whole neighborhood. I whistled some more, to lazy to go outside. Finally, I did walk into the living room and out to the porch. I whistled out the door a few times and got the same lack of response. I could hear Shay carrying on, here there and about.
Reluctantly, I put on my shorts and grabbed the 3 celled Mag Lite by the door and headed out to grab the dog.
Shay was now by the fire pit again and barking towards Grover's place. I was making my way there slowly, being bare footed and a big sissy. When I came closer to where the commotion was, I shined the light all around, up into the trees and under the vehicles. Shay was a few feet from me and I still couldn't reach her. As I inched forward, so did she. I wanted nothing more than to quite her so I wouldn't have to listen to the complaints tomorrow.
I was close enough to see the pile of conduits by the deck. Shay was moving that way around the side of Grover's and along towards the back. I was in close pursuit, whispering obscenities and commands in an attempt to be in charge of the lesser beast.
On my right my light caught a glint and a loud growling noise broke the silence. With only six feet between the porch and the embankment, I froze. Like a deer caught in the lights of a car, the split second jumped by before I realized it was Grover being a prankster. In reality it was very scary seeing him in his underwear.
I didn't even respond to him, still sleep walking and my feet complaining about the pea gravel. I just wanted to get Shay and go back to my nice, comfy bed. She was still barking and her hair was standing straight up from here ears to the tip of her tail.
I shone the light towards her, and finally she backed my way to where I thought I could reach her collar. Then I saw the pumpkin eyes 20 feet beyond. I couldn't see what size cat it was, but I knew it was a cat. I strained to verify the size and was shaken at what I determined. I grabbed the dog and hollered to Grover, MOUNTAIN LION!!!
I the spit second that I took my eyes away to grab the dog and look towards Grover, I looked back and the cat was gone. Now I started feeling a bit nervous. Grover came out again and was looking over my shoulder and I was telling him where it had been. Flashing my light up in the huge oak tree at the back of his house, on the third large branch, overlooking us, there she was. Large eyes, ears and tail. Even larger shoulders and paws. She didn't have to growl or crouch, we knew we were the prey and she was the hunter.
Its funny how your mind can override what you thought was painful when real danger is confronted. We both ran to his house, barefooted, and you never heard one complaint.
The question of what to do caused much contemplation. Over 15 cats and one dog had disappeared over the past 3 months. We live in the woods and expect to share the area with all the creatures that live here. But, its very disconcerting to have a cat twice as big as the dog looking down upon you from 30 feet above your head. You know that one bound and a hundredth of a second and you or your animals would be toast.
While we were discussing these points, we hear a concerned voice calling for me. Its Dorothy out wondering what has happened to me. Now I'm scared beyond being able to control my emotions. I really like being in control of those darn things. Here we are inside the house, nice and safe, and Dorothy is outside with a 100 pound lion, unbeknownst to her, over her head. My voice is not shaky, but you can hear the fright and serious anxiety when I shout (an uncommon thing) for Dorothy to get inside.
Immediately, my mind is made up. I cannot live with this kind of constant fear. Everytime one of us goes out at night I would have this same fright and anxiety. I might even become a shouter. That wouldn't do. The cat has to go.
I let Grover know my thoughts. He goes to his bedroom to look out the window and see if he can see the lion from there. He can, and calls for Dorothy to have a look. Dorothy and I go back and we can see that from the window the lion is a mere 20 feet away. The screen seems kind of thin. Grover confirms my decision, and takes his 12 gauge shotgun out the back door and around the trailer. I keep the light focused on her so Grover can see and he does what must be done.
We spend the nest half hour locating the downed animal and Grover notifies the proper authorities. We part ways and finally get back to bed. It feels good. But, sleep won't come easy. To many adrenals flowing and visions of big eyes hanging over my head. Shay must have been having the same problem. About every hour I could hear her give a couple of woof - woofs and her feet would start running. I don't know if she is chasing or being chased.
_________________________
http://www.codx.com