As I mentioned before, my nose knows things. Last Friday was the last time I’ve been allowed to go outside alone in our front yard. This is serious stuff. Any dog will tell you, going for walks outside is important. And when my freedom to dash-out-the-front-door-without-the-leash moments stop, it’s puzzling. I have an important job to mark the trees to ward off all rabbits and stray cats and other scary things in the yard. But that has stopped all of a sudden.
Maybe I ruined my own good fortune with questionable behavior? I can’t help it, I tell ya, my nose just does its own thing.
I was attracted to the rocks around the tree to the point of drooling heavily. Not my normal, sniff, pee, and move on kind of action. I was seriously engrossed in the task.
It was like an evil spirit took over me. My nose was in overdrive and I couldn’t stop sniffing. The Mrs. had to forcefully pull me away from the rocks around the tree. After that, we went for a short walk, me sniffing the air the whole way, knowing something was up. When we got back to the yard, the scent was still there. Only Mrs. wouldn’t let me near the tree. Dammit – I wanted to smell again. I knew a strange creature had definitely invaded my turf. I’m sure of it.
It freaks me out when I can’t smell what I want to smell.
But not as much as what it sounded like when the Mr. and Mrs. discussed what may have been visiting the yard. Not your run of the mill rabbit, gopher, turkey or deer either.
The rumor is a COUGAR has been sighted in the area? Yikes!
“The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion and mishibijn (Ojibwa),is the largest wildcat in North America north of Mexico. It once roamed throughout Wisconsin, one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat and Canada lynx. Currently, only bobcats are known to breed in Wisconsin. – DNR WI
Mr. and Mrs. only have subtle grumblings about the normal visitors. Come to think of it though, it has been awhile since I’ve seen any furry little visitors who leave behind nuggets for me to nibble on. Their last known tracks are slowly melting away as the snow melts. Maybe the stranger got all of them?
It appears, once again, as I told ya before, my nose knows. There may have been a cougar (or a bobcat) wandering through our yard according to the humans. The Mr. took his camera out to try to get some shots of the paw marks he saw. No luck, the sun had melted them away, so we’re going to just go on the folk tales from the neighborhood party line.
From the smell of things, the paw sighting wasn’t left behind by
a cute little kitty either.
The rumored cougar was spotted by the neighbors in the form of huge paw prints left around their yard (…not the link below either…gotta love the internet for providing unlimited data and links to share), then they called up another neighbor to share the scoop, who then called the Mr., who then told the Mrs., and there you have it. I’ve been inconvenienced by a rumor and a scent I can’t seem to stop smelling.
Until the scent or confirmed sightings have stopped, it’s no more walks, and no more dashing out the front door leash free for me. For those who may have really sighted one, to help save the small dogs (aka, me, or any other furry animal smaller than 120#) please, pretty please, report your, verified as true, information to:
So here I stand, (a much smaller creature than a cougar), safely stuck in our backyard – under the watchful eyes of the humans who let me out to do my business. But my nose knows, there’s something different from the norm roaming around these parts – maybe it’s a loch ness snow monster like creature?
I’m still trying to grasp the smell of it, whatever it really is. If it is a cougar, I may need to work on my appearance, though, and not run to chase it. The authorities say to spread your arms and coat to appear large and don’t run. It’s hard to look bigger than I am, being only a 10# dog. Other than my shadow, I ain’t got much going on to scare off a cougar. My tripod stance, frozen in midair as I sniff, sniff, sniff won’t cut it either.
Stranger-danger is captivating for dogs and humans alike. So is the Mrs. who got extremely captivated while she researched the news about the sightings in Wisconsin?!
Another doggie adventure for the books…
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge Sunrise to Sunset
What scary things do you see in your yard?
Interesting! And scary at the same time! Hope your furry friend (and you) stay safe!
Thank you, we hope so, too! 🙂
Oh my gosh! Don’t let them out. No, no, no! Don’t let them get eaten! Yikes.
Thank you, we plan on sticking close to home!!! 🙂