I have a kitchen window that seems to be THE window onto my local wildlife. Yesterday when making breakfast I locked eyes with what thought was a wolf and her youngster, maybe 50 feet away. “ED!” I yelled, and he actually made it in time to see the back end of the younger one as Mama and pup loped into the junipers off to the side.
But Ed convinced me they were just good sized coyotes. (The size of the tail is what threw me) He reminded me that at several Native American dances we’ve attended the men wore coyote tails that were indeed pretty darn big. Then I checked online and no reports of wolves in our county. At any rate, they were a pair of large, healthy coyotes.
I took a photo of their paw prints a little later, and found they trailed a set of deer prints. Apparently there are reports of coyote actually hunting deer, but mostly in areas where deer are slowed down a bit by snow. We did have an inch or 2 of snow a couple weeks ago, but the first New Mexico blazing sunny day took care of that. Just muddy clay soil left, perfect for making animal prints.
I would prefer the coyotes would roam elsewhere, only because of our outdoorsy kitties. We keep them in at night and whenever we’re not on the property, but they are true country cats and go stir crazy being kept inside.
For both days this weekend our family has had things to do in Albuquerque. But since I also found coyote prints just outside the cabin door, I figured for their own good the cats better hang around inside.
Firework, the fluffy one who doesn’t mind eating kitty kibble and napping all day was pretty mellow about it. But athletic Willow stared at me longingly then hopped up and tried to turn the doorknob with her kitty paws. It was kind of endearing, and I found my self explaining to her about the coyotes.
Speaking of local wild life, I still have one lone hummingbird hanging around. All his compadres have moved off to points south, but this little guy seems not to have gotten the memo. My hummingbird feeders froze a few days ago, and once they thawed I was ready to clean them and put them away for spring.
Two days ago, they thawed and I saw this little fellow dipping his beak in for a frosty sip. I told him it was time to move on, but he ignored me.
Do you talk to animals, even when you know they can’t hear or understand you? I grew up with a mom who always communicated with turtles, cats, birds, dogs and even bugs. So I guess it’s an old habit. Comment below and let me know if you share this idiosyncrasy!
Karen Landry says
I talk to EVERYONE….spiders, frogs, preying mantises, dogs, squirrels, snakes, skunks, beavers, muskrats, groundhogs, you get the idea!….I always do my best to respect the space that every being needs, even a spider. I vacuum them and other insects and place them outside, where they at least have a chance to find something to eat or a more natural place to roost! People think I’m crazy and I couldn’t care less! I feel like they were here first, we are the “interlopers”, so to speak, and we need to think a little more unselfishly and remember that the Earth is NOT here for just humans. Live & let live is definitely my motto! Would love to see those beautiful coyotes….we have them here in Central Ohio, but they lay low, like our foxes, so they are not easy to view. I love your jewelry, I wear it constantly and I hope that your hip has fully recovered. Merry Christmas, Merry, & I wish you all the best for 2019!
Merry says
Aw, what a nice reply! I have gotten so I think the spiders in my house are actually cute. So I guess people might think I’m crazy too. You are my kind of gal, and I am so pleased you enjoy my jewelry! I am well recovered thank you, and getting into long walks again. Have a wonderful holiday season yourself, Karen!
Javelyn says
I’ve talked to animals my whole life and I am quite certain the neighbors think I’m nuts because I still to this day will talk to every bird, squirrel and chipmunk that cross my path on my walks.
I love reading about your adventures!
Merry says
So nice to know there are more of “us” out there! You know, at some level I really do think they understand!
Lois says
Since you asked…I absolutely talk to the animals and birds! I say hello to them and tell them how beautiful they are, I tell them to be careful if I’ve seen hawks around, and I worry when I don’t see certain ones for a while. In fact, I feed lots of birds, chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons, etc in our backyard, which leads into a forested area, and one particular rabbit has started to hang around when she knows I’ll be coming out to check the bird feeders after dinner. She runs up really close to practically greet me. I know its for the sunflower seeds I toss her, but I like to pretend she just likes me, and she’s there every evening. Sometimes she brings a friend along, who doesn’t come as close, but mostly she comes alone. She’s really gotten used to me because I’m home a lot, but then my husband and I went to London for a week, and I felt bad to leave my little friends, because I knew the feeders would all be empty within a day. I quietly explained that I was going to be gone, but that I would be back. Today we returned, and I actually went around the edges of our yard saying “I’m back, everyone”, and I filled all the feeders and tossed some seed around. (Just so you don’t think I’m completely out there, let me add that we don’t have any neighbors close enough to hear me when I do this sort of thing!) The birds are slow to come back when I’m gone for a bit, but in a short while today I saw one happy little chipmunk, who was really cleaning up on the ground seed, and then sure enough, after dinner, I took my dog out (on a leash) and when I turned, there was my bunny friend. I call her Phantom, for the way she often suddenly, mystically appears nearby. Other times she’s already patiently waiting when I come out. I told her how happy I was to see her. I wondered if she showed up every evening, just to check if I was back. It makes me feel guilty when I don’t show up for whatever reason, knowing she or any others might be waiting. When I go inside, I always say “Goodnight bunny. Be safe, and I hope to see you tomorrow.” I’ve always loved and talked to the animals, and feel a real connection to them. That’s also why I love reading your little stories about animals.
Merry says
Lois, I love your story! And no, I do NOT think you are “out there.” Your little wild family really loves you, and I bet they understand what you tell them, too!
Jennifer Schori says
Merry, I love reading your blogs and just wanted to say this one in particular I really enjoyed! And yes, i absolutely “talk to the animals” – maybe not as well as Dr. Doolittle, but we all seem to get on just fine. 🙂
Good luck with the kitties – glad you’re keeping them in for a bit; we moved from the East Coast to the Pacific NW 2 years ago and we have coyotes, black bears, and mountain lions here. There are frequent tales of “lost” cats. No outdoors for these kitties except under direct supervision!
Enjoy the fall!
Merry says
Hi Jennifer! Glad to know I’m not the only one! Wow, it sounds like you live in a gorgeous place. I’m glad your kitties haves such a good “mom!”
Paulette says
We too have coyotes cloe by. We have lost several neighborhood pets fall prey to those crafty hunters. I bear no malice to our coyotes, but it is difficult to watch a grown man sobbing over the loss of his 12 year old cat….it used to catch its own fish at the lake. We have a large dog pen, outfitted with all things cat. My Scarlett can watch lizards and birds. Love your stories.
Merry says
It is always so hard to lose a pet…but I agree with you regarding having no malice towards our wild predators. It sounds like you have a great solution to keeping Scarlett safe!