The up-side of not having a farm dog or a barn cat is that you see more rabbits in your yard, and the birds have a better chance of survival.
We know we have to get a couple cats, otherwise we'll be overrun by rodents, or our outbuildings will. They are already making nests in the quonset where Scott keeps his construction tools, his grain truck, the riding mower, and so on. That's probably unavoidable, but a cat in the territory tends to decimate their numbers considerably.
We've been putting off getting the cats in order to give the baby bunnies and the baby ruffed grouse a chance, but yesterday I saw something just outside the back door that made me get on the horn and call the man who is going to give us barn cats.
It's something we've never seen in this yard: a squirrel. Scott saw one down the road about a week ago and figured it might make it as far as our place, and apparently it has.
With luck, it will move out when the cats move in.
Next we'll have to think about giving a farm dog a home.
It's been nice to be without one; nice to see the rabbits eating the dandelions (see below) even though I've been worried they'd get to my flowers eventually.
But one day Scott saw a big coyote stroll through the yard. We watch our little Ducky Doodle closely when he's outside. We go out with him! You'd think he was a toddler.
A barking dog will warn off the coyotes and foxes. Not completely, mind you. They'll still sneak around. That's probably what took our last barn cat. But a territorial dog gives the cats a better chance at survival, and with luck will scare off skunks and raccoons somewhat, and maybe keep deer out of the garden and flowers.
We shall see.
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| Helping Scott with the dandelions. |
Friday's the Canada Day holiday, so I am working today. Off I go!
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Teresa has left a new comment on your post "Rainy Weekend":
Your post brought back memories of when dad thought this was a great way to wake us up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBQWsBiM5YY
Oy!
Maybe I have no business complaining. I used to wake up my boychiks with a song:
"It's time to get up! It's time to get UP!
We're all in our places
With sunshiny faces
This is the WAY
to start
a new DAY!"
Oh for the good old days when the kids lived at home. Not that I'd go back to them. But they were among the best days of my life. I'm sure, however they wake up now, they prefer it. Yet when I'm dead they'll have a few fond memories, and the morning song might be one.
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Lorna has left a new comment on your post "Rainy Weekend":
Personally, and neutrally, I think the positives outweigh the hollering, but I wasn't there.
I agree, although it's in my nature to shoot for perfection.
Critters Kate! The rabbits are eating my Mom's garden, right down to the ground. We have rabbits here, but I haven't seen any lately, and so far our garden is surviving. There are two local cats that wander the neighbourhood, and they use our front garden as a toilet, but what the heck, at least the plants there grow, and we wear gloves and masks when digging there, which we seldom do. The cats seldom catch birds, but stalk mice and chipmunks. The chipmunks are on the rebound though, watched a tiny chipmunk jumping at a grackle in the backyard this past weekend, it was funny to watch and the grackle won out, gave up no ground until the chipmunk gave it up.
ReplyDeleteI love pets, but in an urban setting they are a big responsibility and quite an expense. I have to make due fraternizing with the cat from across the street, who comes to visit often and is very friendly.
Funny old world, your years raising kids were the best of your life, mine were not much fun due to active ill will from third parties I care not to mention in polite society. Grandchildren, on the other hand, are remarkably, unexpectedly, wonderful. I guess we find our joy in life, wherever and whenever it is offered!
Why is the squirrel a bad thing to have around? We have loads of them. A few bunnies and chipmunks, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, coyotes killed a lot of my cats. Down to 3 tom cats now. I need a dog to scare off the racoons that are way too numerous. I've had a small number of squirrels here for years and I keep a close watch to see they don't get too numerous. They look nice but they are just rats with bushy tails.
ReplyDeleteYes, a wise move with so much at stake and those other predators to worry about.
ReplyDeleteXO
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