When I'm out in the yard with the pups I never take my eyes off them. You could try to distract me with conversation or swinging pasties but I won’t be looking because I'm on alert and have the maternal instincts of four legged animal that doesn’t take chances with a litter.
There is so much that can harm a pet, one of my beloved poodles were bitten by a spider at the woodpile and died, so I am paranoid beyond belief. I would never leave them unattended, keeping ears and eyes on full alert, scoping the surrounding landscape ready to roll into action if called on. Wildlife isn’t the only threat, there are dangers on the ground. I don’t allow snacking on dead things, various dead vermin like ground moles and mice, shells, (seagulls like to drop mussels and crabs on the rocks around the yard to break their shells and if they miss a piece, the stench of rot would curl your hair), rotting humus, maple leaves, mushrooms, compost juices, a whole list of things to be wary of.
We haven’t seen any coyotes lately but we heard a few barks from up in the hills at night. The deer are around, usually so close I could throw a stick at them but they aren’t threatening to us unless they were charged and then a pup might get a hoof in the mouth. A kick would probably seriously harm or kill a small dog. Luckily the dogs pay them no heed so I never worry about their presence.
Sunday morning was crisp and clear and we were in the front of the property, down by the rock wall that runs along the front of the house. I sensed it more than saw it, turned my head and there it was. A Bald Eagle, soaring parallel to our property, on its way to toward town. The white head and tail tip were stark contrast against the greyish sky and dark body of feathers. The wing span had to be somewhere between 5 and 7 feet, a big bird that can handle larger prey, like bunnies or a toy poodle. A shiver went down my spine as I thought the worst scenario. Although a magnificent specimen of nature and interesting to watch, it wouldn’t think twice about a poodle sandwich. It scouted out over the harbour looking for fish, circled back around and landed on the neighbour’s tree on the water side of the road. I’m sure he spotted us but maybe with a human handy it wouldn’t try anything. I’ve spotted hawks before but they were smaller and although I wouldn’t turn my back on one, I’m not sure they could handle the weight of one of my pups and still get off the ground. But this guy is a different story. He’s a legitimate threat. Now I’ll be on guard looking up down and all around. I hollered for hubby who came out with the camera and took a few pictures. He was in his slippers so didn’t want to traipse over the wet grass to get closer and shot these at a distance, but you can clearly make out his distinct colouring. Every day is a lesson in nature if your eyes and ears are open to it.
FYI - Bald Eagles are not bald because the head is featherless; it is because the head of an adult is white. They probably mate for life and build their nest in a tree, cliff or even on the ground and add to it each year using such materials as sticks, weeds, and earth until it may weigh a thousand pounds or more. One observer saw a bird lift and fly away with the top of a muskrat house, presumably as a handy package of nest makings. Bald Eagles eat carrion, waterfowl and especially fish. In recent years pesticides have often polluted their food, a fact that has the contributed to the decline of the bird in many areas.
There is so much that can harm a pet, one of my beloved poodles were bitten by a spider at the woodpile and died, so I am paranoid beyond belief. I would never leave them unattended, keeping ears and eyes on full alert, scoping the surrounding landscape ready to roll into action if called on. Wildlife isn’t the only threat, there are dangers on the ground. I don’t allow snacking on dead things, various dead vermin like ground moles and mice, shells, (seagulls like to drop mussels and crabs on the rocks around the yard to break their shells and if they miss a piece, the stench of rot would curl your hair), rotting humus, maple leaves, mushrooms, compost juices, a whole list of things to be wary of.
We haven’t seen any coyotes lately but we heard a few barks from up in the hills at night. The deer are around, usually so close I could throw a stick at them but they aren’t threatening to us unless they were charged and then a pup might get a hoof in the mouth. A kick would probably seriously harm or kill a small dog. Luckily the dogs pay them no heed so I never worry about their presence.
Sunday morning was crisp and clear and we were in the front of the property, down by the rock wall that runs along the front of the house. I sensed it more than saw it, turned my head and there it was. A Bald Eagle, soaring parallel to our property, on its way to toward town. The white head and tail tip were stark contrast against the greyish sky and dark body of feathers. The wing span had to be somewhere between 5 and 7 feet, a big bird that can handle larger prey, like bunnies or a toy poodle. A shiver went down my spine as I thought the worst scenario. Although a magnificent specimen of nature and interesting to watch, it wouldn’t think twice about a poodle sandwich. It scouted out over the harbour looking for fish, circled back around and landed on the neighbour’s tree on the water side of the road. I’m sure he spotted us but maybe with a human handy it wouldn’t try anything. I’ve spotted hawks before but they were smaller and although I wouldn’t turn my back on one, I’m not sure they could handle the weight of one of my pups and still get off the ground. But this guy is a different story. He’s a legitimate threat. Now I’ll be on guard looking up down and all around. I hollered for hubby who came out with the camera and took a few pictures. He was in his slippers so didn’t want to traipse over the wet grass to get closer and shot these at a distance, but you can clearly make out his distinct colouring. Every day is a lesson in nature if your eyes and ears are open to it.
FYI - Bald Eagles are not bald because the head is featherless; it is because the head of an adult is white. They probably mate for life and build their nest in a tree, cliff or even on the ground and add to it each year using such materials as sticks, weeds, and earth until it may weigh a thousand pounds or more. One observer saw a bird lift and fly away with the top of a muskrat house, presumably as a handy package of nest makings. Bald Eagles eat carrion, waterfowl and especially fish. In recent years pesticides have often polluted their food, a fact that has the contributed to the decline of the bird in many areas.
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