Saturday, January 26, 2019

Late Night Visitors

I'm still getting used to the desert.  There are actually seasons here, unlike where I stay when in California.  It's cold (and apparently snowy) in the winter, causing most everything to hibernate.  At 36 degrees this morning, I completely understand.  Being underground is like having an electric blanket.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have scorpions and spiders hiding away and NOT visiting me.  That one in the tub when I arrived was just a fluke.  He died by the time I got up the nerve to get him out.  Starvation I assume.  Not sorry!!

I was lamenting the lack of critters last night ... no bunnies, no birds, not even the wail of a coyote.  I have literally seen nothing since arriving.  Wasn't I surprised at the late night visitor who came calling.
Not the human variety, and NOT the refrigerator guy who has now left me standing TWICE!!!  We'll talk about that later.  

It was the four legged kind looking to sneak a nighttime snack.  I heard him yi-yi-yi over the television.  I hit mute.  He called out again, louder.   Hey puppies ..... we have a visitor!!  I walked to the sliding glass door and opened it to hear better.  
Hey Mister Coyote ... if you're looking for a meal, you should probably be a little more stealthy!!  I closed the door and sat down.  The wailing got louder.  Back to the door I was totally surprised to find him screaming at the very corner of my little two foot tall concrete block fence!  YIKES!!!  He was BIG and LOUD!!!

That's when it happened!  Cooper didn't like him getting so close and made a beeline for the door, barking his crazy "someone's out there" bark.  He and the coyote talked back and forth, with me trying to hush Cooper by flailing at him with my foot.  Then the coyote did what coyote's do.  He yipped quickly once or twice ... then again.  Then it was back to full blown howling.  Yip yip again.

Here's what I learned many moons ago on the ranch.  That's how coyotes get dogs to follow them, taking them way off so the waiting pack can attack.  It usually happened when we were on horseback in the far reaches of the property.  The coyotes yipped and the dogs ran after them.  We would have to race after the coyotes on horseback, chasing THEM off in order to save the dogs.  

Here's the good word for the day.  Never EVER leave your pets outside alone for any reason.  A coyote can lure them off in a flash.  If you tie your baby up, you just provided lunch for a hungry critter.  Think they don't come out during the day?  Yes they do.  Think they don't go around a crowded town or group of RV's during the day?  Yes they do.  Keep your babies safe my friends.  Keep them inside unless you are right there.

Cooper did get in the last word as the coyote wandered off looking for another meal.  I warily stepped outside on the patio.  That's when I almost got hit in the face.  Having just put my hummingbird feeder out a few hours earlier, I figured I could leave it all night.  WRONG!!  

A huge bat did a fly-by around me and straight to the feeder, where he hung in mid air sipping the sweet nectar, the same way hummers do.  I grabbed my camera, but even with it's night vision, the bats were too fast to get any images.  I brought it in for the night.
In other news, that darn refrigerator/cupboard-cutting guy never showed up, nor did he call me this time.  That's two days I've sat here waiting.  I'm not a happy camper.  Here's my question of the day.  I can cut that out myself if I have the right tools.  So what should I use?  A skill saw?  Maybe a router?  Or just a jigsaw?  

There's no way to raise the cabinets since one end goes all the way to the floor.  It's not going to be easy hanging upside down on a ladder to get it done, but I'm determined.  That half inch HAS to go!!   

Wait ..... did you hear it?   That's the chirping of a quail in the bushes!!!!!





17 comments:

  1. Another trick for the coyote packs is to send the smallest or a young female in heat to lure the dog to the pack.

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    1. Yup ... I've seen that too. Silly dogs just can't resist a romp.

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  2. Message heard, loud and clear. Thanks Nancy.
    Look at all them hummers!

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    1. ps - what a beautiful picture with the sunlight on the bushes.

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    2. Patsy, I just want everyone's babies to be safe! I would just cry my heart out if Cooper or Jessie got taken by a coyote. Thanks for the kind words about the picture. I love the morning sun.

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  3. We have seen the coyotes, during the day, in campgrounds as well. You just never know where they will be, even back home have seen them right in town.
    Good luck with that cupboard like Mr. Ed said need a photo or two.

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    1. Coyotes have become pretty brave over the years, especially in the desert with more to eat around houses and people.

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  4. Go to Home Depot into the tools area, talk to the salesperson...you want something which is not heavy, and which you can set the depth so you don't cut into your drywall, perhaps a Compact Circular Saw 'might' work. The thing is, at HD you can handle one and see what you like. But don't give up on that guy yet...heck, if it was Arkansas it might take a month to get someone like that out, time just is not an issue with some of these folks.

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    1. You are probably right about that. I'm closer to Mexico than Canada!! LOL Things just don't get done quite as fast around here. Patience is a virtue!!

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  5. Heard so many stories about Coyotes that it is a very smart and dangerous animal not just to pets but humans as well.
    As Dave suggested go to HD and look at an Ocellating Tool. Lite, Compact but extremely Noisy. You can better control the depth of the cut without even touching the walls or other cabinets. Its Blades are a more finger friendly then the saws you mentioned especially in tight corners with little Kickback.
    Be Safe and Enjoy.

    It's about time.

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    1. Got it! Thank you for the info. First thing Tuesday, I'll be back at it.

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  6. Good advice about animals. It always surprises us when we see dogs running free out here. I am not sure an owner would be able to do anything to stop what would happen in a flash.
    Nice pictures, the one of the hummingbirds is great.

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    1. I guess they just don't know, or don't think it will ever happen to them. Big dogs may be okay ... little dogs are lunch!

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  7. We were camped with friends once when a coyote almost enticed off one of our dogs. Moments of fear and excitement there! And confusion since I didn't know what was happening. Good thing the dog owners in our bunch knew what to do.

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    1. It can happen in a flash! I'm glad your puppies were okay. By the way, I didn't even mention the rattlesnake danger!!

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