Hard On The Little Things
So. Last bit o' August. Trees starting to turn. Small fuzzy creatures starting to have a bit of the desperation air about them. Deer starting to wantonly dash across the road a bit more frequently, again.
Damn that last bit.
Driving home Saturday, just before lunch, we saw a fawn mosey across the road. Yes, he was trying to act all tough and grown up, pausing to look at us partway across, but still had his spots on the back half of his person and clearly needed some parental supervision. Right before the fawn, we had passed some sort of road kill that had 3 very large turkey vultures perched on it, right in the middle of the road. That was actually a first. You see lots of vultures around here, but never in the road, for some reason. They are always circling around in the air with their wide black wings and tiny red heads. Apparently, the off-road kill is the domain of the vultures and middle-of-the-road kill belongs to the crows. Bleh. I hope this is not the start of some sort of carrion turf war.
On his dawn run on Saturday, Charles was chagrined to find himself charged by no less than 4 ground squirrels and 2 bunnies along the trail. Guess the little things were looking to take back the path. I can't help but wonder if they had some sort of ambush set up a bit farther down the way and were thwarted in their attempt to drive him into a pit trap.
Probably as fodder for the vultures, at least until deer season starts in earnest.
Maybe he should stick to the treadmill until spring.
Damn that last bit.
Driving home Saturday, just before lunch, we saw a fawn mosey across the road. Yes, he was trying to act all tough and grown up, pausing to look at us partway across, but still had his spots on the back half of his person and clearly needed some parental supervision. Right before the fawn, we had passed some sort of road kill that had 3 very large turkey vultures perched on it, right in the middle of the road. That was actually a first. You see lots of vultures around here, but never in the road, for some reason. They are always circling around in the air with their wide black wings and tiny red heads. Apparently, the off-road kill is the domain of the vultures and middle-of-the-road kill belongs to the crows. Bleh. I hope this is not the start of some sort of carrion turf war.
On his dawn run on Saturday, Charles was chagrined to find himself charged by no less than 4 ground squirrels and 2 bunnies along the trail. Guess the little things were looking to take back the path. I can't help but wonder if they had some sort of ambush set up a bit farther down the way and were thwarted in their attempt to drive him into a pit trap.
Probably as fodder for the vultures, at least until deer season starts in earnest.
Maybe he should stick to the treadmill until spring.
Labels: The Life Rural
posted by Diana at 2:10 PM
12 Comments:
Ugh. Turkey vultures are so homely.
I have seen them in the middle of the road--in Indiana--scarfing down something. Quite the apocalyptic sight.
However, it is really neat to see them perched high in a tree with wings spread catching the morning warmth. Wow, are those things big.
The Ole RFer
Those turkey vultures are harbingers of doom. The evil deer that have been plotting against you all summer have made new alliances, and soon there will be terrific battles , brought right to your very path. Charles has only witnessed the beginning.
And that fawn? He has been raised from birth to be your nemesis. It is his mission in life to defeat you. He is the heir to the Cervidae Realm, and he will regain what is rightfully his.
(Did you ever ask the previous owners of your home why exactly they were selling?)
Rozanne- They are, aren't they. Perhaps in Indiana, they have vanquished the crow and taken the roads as theirs. It was very creepy to come across them like that. In the air, they soar rather nicely.
Dad- Big in the tree, huge a few feet from you, feasting. Glad we were in a moving vehicle, just so there was no doubt that we were very much alive.
Teri- There you go! He did wander right into the trees that the two thug deer always exit into. Circumstantial evidence at the least. The Cosa Nostra of the Cervidae Realm are clearly involved with his ascent to the throne. Thank goodness our one neighbor is a bow hunter, without him, we would be murdered in our beds.
I have a tendency to yell at the squirrels when they dash across the road and then turn around midway "Yeah, you better run!" So does Keem. I'm not sure why we feel that will help them learn their lesson because it really doesn't seem to help.
Maybe they think Charles is Cinderella and want to help make him a dress for the ball? Or was that mice and birds? Was it Snow White that the forest creatures adored? Have I mentioned how much I love living in an apartment building because I'm not being attacked by deer?
Wisconsin is more dangerous than I would have imagined! I think there might be something to an organized crime ring headed by those thug deer gangs. Watch out for those squirrels and bunnies, cute but crafty. Charles should watch out- especially for the bunnies.
Dana- I like the taunting of the suicidal squirrels. I think I will follow suit. I think Sleeping Beauty had that scene in the forrest where the creatures pretended to be a prince charming dancing with her. I also think the Fairy Godmothers had mousely help dressing Cinderella. Snow white must have had furry help, too, now that you mention it. See, I think you are right on all counts.
Stacy- I kept thinking of the Killer Rabbit in Monty Python, with the long, pointy teeth. Maybe he needs to carry a Holy Hand Grenade?
"Charles was chagrined to find himself charged by no less than 4 ground squirrels and 2 bunnies along the trail. "
Good grief! Charging squirrels and bunnies? What's next? Rabid turtles?
Cagey- Precisely. He should be able to outrun a rabid turtle, though, unless he tripped and fell into suspected pit trap. He is happy that the vicious and highly territorial red-winged blackbird near the start of the trail has moved. He used to get dive bombed and chased by it both coming and going.
Yeah, I forgot about the mock Prince Charming in Sleeping Beauty. Odd since that is my favorite Disney movie but I think it is because Malicifiant (oh, heck, no idea how to spell her name) is my favorite villainess. I have a t-shirt with her face on it that says "Worship me and we'll get along fine." If it fit better, I would so wear it to karaoke.
I'm thinking the treadmill might be better. Poor Charles.
Ground squirrels and bunnies charging? Take away their credit cards. Bwa ha hah ha hah! Oh, I crack myself up. Which is a good thing, because that lame old joke won't be funny to anyone else.
Where have I been?? I'd read this but now i'm re-reading and this is hysterical:
"Charles was chagrined to find himself charged by no less than 4 ground squirrels and 2 bunnies along the trail. Guess the little things were looking to take back the path. I can't help but wonder if they had some sort of ambush set up a bit farther down the way and were thwarted in their attempt to drive him into a pit trap."
PIT TRAP! :DDDDDDDDDDDDDD You're fabulous, FABULOUS!
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