Lots and lots of creatures live on Assateague Island, and/or in and on the surrounding waters. Despite the often harsh conditions that occur in a coastal environment, a wide variety of animal species have managed to find a niche on, or around, Assateague, which stretches from southern Maryland to northern Virginia in the Atlantic Ocean. Each of the island's different ecological zones provide habitat for a multitude of animals; these include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Today, I'll write about the mammals - those air-breathing, warm-blooded creatures like us, who walk upon the ground or swim in the ocean.
More than twenty-five types of mammals live in or around the island of Assateague; the most well-known are the wild ponies. They are descendants of feral horses and ponies; the first-known being the blinded Spanish pit ponies that were ship-wrecked on the island from the galleon La Galga, and were noted in a report to Spain by the Spanish ambassador. The people of coastal Maryland and Virginia were taxed upon ownership of livestock, and they allowed their stock to run free on Assateague to avoid payment of said taxes, and, so, the "wild ponies" of Assateague came about. The 80-plus ponies living on the Maryland end of Virginia receive only contraceptive darts for care; the ponies in Virginia belong to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and are kept on Assateague via a contract with the US government. The ponies feed primarily on salt-marsh cord grass, but also consume beach grass, greenbriar, bayberry, poison ivy, and many other types of vegetation that are not in the usual horse's diet.
Other large mammals also roam the parks (the Assateague National Seashore and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge) grazing and browsing on low-lying vegetation. They are the indigenous Virginia White-tailed deer, and the non-native Sika deer, a miniature type of Asian elk, who were introduced to Assateague in the 1920s. On-going research is evaluating the ecological effects of Sika deer on both native vegetation communities and their effect upon other wildlife, including the native white-tailed deer.
The other other mammals range in size from small rodents, to bats, to furry critters, to large marine mammals - including the bottlenose dolphin and several species of whale that feed in the island's offshore waters. Besides the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, and the common dolphin are frequently seen around the island - in the ocean and in the channels and bays.
Whale sightings include the fin whale, humpback whale, pilot whale, sperm whale and right whale. Seals are occasionally seen resting on Assateague Island, also; usually sighted are the harp seal, harbor seal, and, rarely, the hooded seal.
Red foxes build dens in sand dunes and roam the island hunting for mice, birds, insects, and berries. Opossums and raccoons provide the important environmental service of waste removal, feeding on the island's carrion, as well as insects, larvae, berries and small rodents. The only marsupial in North America, the opossum give birth to premature young which complete their development in a pouch on the outside of the mother's body.
Rodents such as the meadow jumping mouse and meadow vole live in grasses bordering both salt- and freshwater wetlands. They feed on seeds, wetland plants, and in the case of the jumping mouse, insects. Though seldom seen, both river otters and muskrat make their home in the island's marshes and adjacent waterways.
A listing of mammals on and around Assateague Island:
Chincoteague/Assateague ponies
Red fox
Whales - fin, humpback, pilot, right, and sperm
White-tailed deer
Bats - little brown, red, and silver-haired
Delmarva fox squirrel
Raccoon
Eastern cottontail rabbit
Dolphins - Atlantic bottlenose, Atlantic white-sided, and common
Sika deer (miniature Asian elk)
Mice - house, meadow jumping, and white-footed
River otter
Rats - Norway and rice
Least shrew
Muskrat
Virginia opossum
Meadow jumping vole
Seals - harbor, harp, and hooded
Showing posts with label raccoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raccoons. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2018
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Bits And Pieces
Well, let's see..... Nyquist spiked a temperature the other day, and then his white cell count was elevated, so he has been scratched from running in the Belmont Stakes in New York.
The news around here has been kind of weird... A man was seen shooting a handgun into Boulder Creek where it runs by the Public Library on Sunday. He fired multiple times and was approached by a police team who told him to put the gun down on the ground, several times. He didn't. He was shot by the officers and died in the hospital a few hours later. While the police team were giving the shooter medical assistance, more shots were fired into Boulder Creek, more than a block further east, in Central Park. That shooter was not caught. Beatrice and I showed up at the library at 2:45, and were puzzled by the crime scene tape that was in place by the Creek. We learned later that we had missed the commotion by 30 minutes.
We've had several traffic accidents that have ended with deaths - including an 8-year-old girl riding her bike in front of her house, with her Dad on the sidewalk. A 20-year-old under the influence of drugs ran into two cars stopped at an intersection, and killed two well-known Boulderites. The driver never touched the brakes, according to police investigations.
We've had at least 10 raccoons killed by cars in the neighborhood recently, with at least two more having canine distemper. And a young, but adult, bobcat was found in a nearby park with injuries from an automobile - he didn't survive.
On the plus side, there are more cute foals on Assateague... in both Maryland and Virginia. And my cousin asked about our Native American background - we've had rumors running through the family for several generations, but I've never been able to produce anything as proof positive. I finally, this afternoon, found that a distant great grandmother was identified in the Shawnee Nation Register as an Arrohatok-Powhatan Native American. The family rumors were that this lady was a relative of Pocohantas - but she would have been from a later generation, I think (one or two), unless the older men took young wives... Then, there's a tale of my great-grandmother being 1/2 or 1/4 Cherokee, which I have yet to prove; and the tales of Whealtons and older Chincoteague families having taken local Natives as wives - from among the Accawmacke. Time will tell, I guess.
The news around here has been kind of weird... A man was seen shooting a handgun into Boulder Creek where it runs by the Public Library on Sunday. He fired multiple times and was approached by a police team who told him to put the gun down on the ground, several times. He didn't. He was shot by the officers and died in the hospital a few hours later. While the police team were giving the shooter medical assistance, more shots were fired into Boulder Creek, more than a block further east, in Central Park. That shooter was not caught. Beatrice and I showed up at the library at 2:45, and were puzzled by the crime scene tape that was in place by the Creek. We learned later that we had missed the commotion by 30 minutes.
We've had several traffic accidents that have ended with deaths - including an 8-year-old girl riding her bike in front of her house, with her Dad on the sidewalk. A 20-year-old under the influence of drugs ran into two cars stopped at an intersection, and killed two well-known Boulderites. The driver never touched the brakes, according to police investigations.
We've had at least 10 raccoons killed by cars in the neighborhood recently, with at least two more having canine distemper. And a young, but adult, bobcat was found in a nearby park with injuries from an automobile - he didn't survive.
On the plus side, there are more cute foals on Assateague... in both Maryland and Virginia. And my cousin asked about our Native American background - we've had rumors running through the family for several generations, but I've never been able to produce anything as proof positive. I finally, this afternoon, found that a distant great grandmother was identified in the Shawnee Nation Register as an Arrohatok-Powhatan Native American. The family rumors were that this lady was a relative of Pocohantas - but she would have been from a later generation, I think (one or two), unless the older men took young wives... Then, there's a tale of my great-grandmother being 1/2 or 1/4 Cherokee, which I have yet to prove; and the tales of Whealtons and older Chincoteague families having taken local Natives as wives - from among the Accawmacke. Time will tell, I guess.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Back From a Trip Through Time and Space
Sorry, folks; between pet- and house-sitting and getting deeply involved in three new books, I just didn't get around to my blog. I'm embarrassed by my back-sliding (not really). I have been extremely busy in my critter-sitter business, and won't be sleeping at home again until the 26th of May.
I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport. When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking. As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights. The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon. I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport. As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph. Oh, boy.... I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels. Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi. I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again. Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap. After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning. (She's visited Tess the past three days.) So we ambled toward my sister's house. As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house. Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it. The raccoon was having great difficulty moving. It crossed the street, and had a seizure. Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat. It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's. The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning. It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed. I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer.... Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats. I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers. Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage. So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening.... I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series. I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one. Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!
I was up at 4 o'clock this morning, showered dressed, walked the dog, fed the critters, watered the garden and the flowers, and was standing at the end of the driveway at 5 o'clock to travel with clients to Denver National Airport. When they picked me up, dawn was breaking, the robins and smaller birds had begun singing, and a few of the neighbor's ducks were wakening and quacking. As we drove out of the neighborhood, there was an oddly-moving eye-shine reflected back in the headlights. The driver asked what it was, and I was able to answer it was a raccoon - although it was moving sideways, more like a crab than a raccoon. I didn't give it anymore thought, as we were soon on the Expressway, where the speed limit is posted as 75 miles per hour - the family had decided to sleep in a little later and then rush to the airport. As we passed one automated signal, it said we were traveling at 98 mph. Oh, boy.... I drove back to Boulder at the rather sedate 65 mph posted for the Interstate, instead of racing back on the Expressway.
First, I fed and walked Roxie and Finnie, the two Brittany Spaniels. Then I went to the house behind Roxie and Finnie's and I walked Cooper and Lola, then fed those two, as well as the two cats, Pounce and Tipsi. I had already fed and walked Tess and the cats, but I stopped by to allow Tess time to go outside again. Then I went to my apartment, fed my kits and cleaned the litter boxes, and took a 50 minute nap. After that, it was off to walk Rosie.
Rosie and I had decided to visit my sister and brother-in-law's yard this morning. (She's visited Tess the past three days.) So we ambled toward my sister's house. As we approached, I saw a raccoon (this was at 10:25) sidling sideways across the road from Olivier's house. Rosie also saw it, and wanted to run and grab it. The raccoon was having great difficulty moving. It crossed the street, and had a seizure. Then it licked it's hind legs, which were completely hairless and looked like raw meat. It started sidling sideways, again, like a crab into the back yard at my sister's. The (d'uhh!) realization came that this was the same raccoon I'd seen about 400 yards away at 5 this morning. It had another seizure before it hid inside an airplane wing beside the shed. I told my brother-in-law and sister what I had seen, and they agreed to call the Animal Control officer.... Rosie and I came over to Tess's house instead.
After walking Rosie, I have bounced back and forth between the three houses of dogs and cats. I have walked dogs, watered flowers and gardens, and gathered mail and newspapers. Tonight is the penultimate presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Boulder Dinner Theater, and Max is back in town to see his Dad on stage. So I'll be headed over to Rosie's soon to keep her company while her family is out for the evening.... I do have to go feed Roxie and Finnie and the ABCs before I go to Rosie's.
I just finished three new books, as well as re-reading another trilogy set of C J Cherryh's Foreigner series. I find myself thinking in the alien language, Ragi, occasionally - and I sometimes throw an atevi into a conversation, because the alien word is a better fit than the English one. Sometimes I feel that I'd rather exist in Ms. Cherryh's universe!
Friday, April 29, 2016
Spring in Boulder, Colorado
We're two days away from May, and it's snowing. Of course, we had small flurries multiple times yesterday, but the forecasters are now saying we'll have a six-inch accumulation by supper tonight. Besides distemper outbreaks in our local raccoon population, spring also brings thunder snow and lightning. Late Monday night and/or early Tuesday morning, we had one heck of a rain, hail, and thunder and lightning event. I thought we were having a downpour of rain, until I looked out the window and saw hail bouncing off the neighbors' roof. There was one very loud roll of thunder in the middle of the event. Lightning struck an ash tree six blocks from the house, and blew most of the bark off the tree.
This time of year also means that Boulder starts to see ravenous bears that have just emerged from hibernation. The first black bear sighting in Boulder happened yesterday, when a youngster was spotted in a yard near Broadway in South Boulder. It had apparently eaten plenty during the night, and sought refuge in a neighborhood tree for a twelve hour nap. It left about dusk, after being filmed by all the local television stations and by hundreds of curious adults and children. (Hey, there's been a bear sighting! Let's go look!)
This photo was released by the Boulder Police Department, who were asking that citizens stay away and give the bear plenty of room.... Did they? Of course not!
I did have to laugh at myself last night. Joel was on-stage, and I was staying with Rosie. It was 8 p.m., full dark, and with light sleet falling. Rosie suddenly lifted her head and looked toward the back yard. I could see what looked like a flashlight beam inside the shed, as the door was, oddly, open. My first thought was what is a bear doing in the shed? My second thought was why the heck would a bear have a flashlight? My third thought was that the light was at a very high angle... It finally hit me that Mark, the gardener, had returned after dark to cover the new flowers and tender plants to protect them from the snow. The "flashlight" was a head-lamp, and Mark was getting wire forms and protective sheets out of the shed. - I was mean, I guess. - I walked up behind him in the dark, and said, "Mark! This is unexpected!" He almost went through the roof, he jumped so high. Then I felt guilty for frightening him. So I stayed out and helped him cover the plants....
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Canine Distemper and Raccoons
I had my own close encounter with a very sick raccoon this morning and early afternoon. I have seen several dead in driveways and along the side of the road. These are not victims of a car or truck accident - they just look all curled up and not very happy. In the past week I've passed by 16 dead raccoons in this neighborhood.
Rosie and I went out early this morning and she relieved herself. When we went out again, at 8 a.m., she was very interested in the deck, where it overhangs the water feature. I stooped over, and I saw a raccoon's hind foot being pulled up into the opening. I hoped the raccoon wouldn't die under the deck and next to the hot tub.
I took Rosie out at 9:30 and a few minutes after 11. On the last trip out, I saw the raccoon was on the grass beside the deck, and it was convulsing. I quickly got Rosie back inside, keeping my body between her and the sight and scent of the raccoon. First, I called the City of Boulder Animal Control; then I called the owners; then I called the veterinarians. I spent the next 45 minutes discussing and asking questions about canine distemper...
First, Animal Control was on another call - which didn't matter to me. They arrived 45 minutes after my initial call to dispatch. The young officer looked at the raccoon, and stated that it positively was a case of distemper. The raccoon wasn't yet dead, and he asked if he could euthanize the animal in the back yard, where it was lying. I asked to to put the poor creature out of it's misery as soon as possible. He went back to his truck, filled a syringe with a potent anesthetic, and came back with a syringe poke stick, a set of tongs, and a large blue plastic bag. Standing on the deck, he was able to inject the raccoon. Waiting for two minutes after the raccoon ceased the breathe, he picked it up with the tongs, and placed it into the bag, tying it closed. He took the body away, and cleaned the tongs, the poke stick, and his hands with a sanitizer, and then with a bleach wipe.
After speaking with the Animal Control Officer, as well as the vets, I learned that raccoons carry both canine and feline distemper within their systems at all times.
Feline distemper usually causes diarrhea and death in the raccoons.
Canine distemper will cause diarrhea, followed by seizures and convulsions, then death.
Sunshine and heat will cause the distemper virus to dry and die quickly. If this had been mid-summer, I would not have had to do anything other than keep Rosie away from the area for 3 to 4 hours. Since we are having a cool and rainy spell, I was advised to make a solution of water and bleach - 1 part bleach to 30 parts water - and spray the area, where the raccoon had spent it's last hour, very well. I was told that once the area was dry, it would be safe. (Of course, I'm a worry-wart and sprayed all the areas where I had seen the raccoon touching the ground, and where it had climbed under the deck - )
I hope that none of you have to share the experience.
The Animal Control Officer told me that we have large peaks of distemper deaths in raccoons every 3 to five years.....
Have a happy Spring!
Friday, February 26, 2016
Today, I'm a Grouch
I hate being plugged-in and turned-on. With my computer, I can easily turn it on and off, and can switch web sites and I always try to keep the "Chat" turned off - when I'm on my PC, I'm concentrating on doing specific things, and hate being constantly interrupted by obtuse conversations. I like straight e-mail, or speaking with a person face-to-face. I dislike telephones, whether it's my land-line or emergency cell phone - but some people can't seem to grasp that fact.
I was up at 5 this morning, and was on my way to work before 7:30. I had several stops to make, and three sets of dogs to walk, which meant I walked about 15 miles all total today. I usually take a 90 minute nap in the afternoon, so I can get up and go again in the afternoon and evening. Today, my landline phone rang six times while I was trying to nap; and my cell rang twice. Both of my numbers are posted on the National Do Not Call list, and were listed the day I received them, so I shouldn't be getting many stupid phone calls. I looked at the caller identification for all calls - I was awake, because of the ring, after all. I did not recognize a single number, name, or place that any of the calls were made from. And that angers me. I purchased the telephone itself, and I pay for the use of the wires and voice mail on the land line, and for the use of air-time on my cell. Complete strangers call me and ask me who I am. It's none of their business. Why do I keep getting off-the-wall calls when I'm on the No Call List?
I guess seeing the dead raccoon with it's head sticking out of the driveway culvert put me in a bad mood this morning. I know that a lot of people don't like raccoons, but they were put on the earth (or evolved here) for a reason... I told the guy who owned the house that he had a dead raccoon in his driveway, and his response was, "Good riddance!" I told him the body was stuck in the culvert pipe of his driveway, and he started cursing. Why blame the poor dead critter for dying in an inconvenient spot? The man owns three dogs that are allowed the run of the neighborhood, and I thought he'd be happy to remove the carcass before his dogs decided to make a meal of it. Oh, well....
I was able to watch a bunch of cottontail rabbits playing, and several male flickers trying to romance their ladies. Saw several hawks flying and a group of about 100 Canada geese were flying northwest very early this morning. he squirrels are beginning to chase each other like crazy in the trees, so mating season is upon us... Just be careful about interrupting skunks - they spray like mad and have party orgies in the early hours.
Be safe!
I was up at 5 this morning, and was on my way to work before 7:30. I had several stops to make, and three sets of dogs to walk, which meant I walked about 15 miles all total today. I usually take a 90 minute nap in the afternoon, so I can get up and go again in the afternoon and evening. Today, my landline phone rang six times while I was trying to nap; and my cell rang twice. Both of my numbers are posted on the National Do Not Call list, and were listed the day I received them, so I shouldn't be getting many stupid phone calls. I looked at the caller identification for all calls - I was awake, because of the ring, after all. I did not recognize a single number, name, or place that any of the calls were made from. And that angers me. I purchased the telephone itself, and I pay for the use of the wires and voice mail on the land line, and for the use of air-time on my cell. Complete strangers call me and ask me who I am. It's none of their business. Why do I keep getting off-the-wall calls when I'm on the No Call List?
I guess seeing the dead raccoon with it's head sticking out of the driveway culvert put me in a bad mood this morning. I know that a lot of people don't like raccoons, but they were put on the earth (or evolved here) for a reason... I told the guy who owned the house that he had a dead raccoon in his driveway, and his response was, "Good riddance!" I told him the body was stuck in the culvert pipe of his driveway, and he started cursing. Why blame the poor dead critter for dying in an inconvenient spot? The man owns three dogs that are allowed the run of the neighborhood, and I thought he'd be happy to remove the carcass before his dogs decided to make a meal of it. Oh, well....
I was able to watch a bunch of cottontail rabbits playing, and several male flickers trying to romance their ladies. Saw several hawks flying and a group of about 100 Canada geese were flying northwest very early this morning. he squirrels are beginning to chase each other like crazy in the trees, so mating season is upon us... Just be careful about interrupting skunks - they spray like mad and have party orgies in the early hours.
Be safe!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A Pleasant Saturday
I had a great day with Tess, Lyra and Lily yesterday. We had a super morning, and both yesterday and today I was able to allow Tess off-leash, so she could run around and be a dog. I met Beatrice for brunch, and we ate at Turley's and had out favorite wait-person, Ashley, so we left her a huge tip. Then we went back to the house, and sat on the patio by the koi pond and talked for hours. Finally we visited China Gourmet and had an exquisite dinner. When I got back to the house, I was surprised to see cars parked all over the place in the corner of the neighborhood. Turns out that Sara L was having a open pot-luck for her friends and neighbors, and Camilla informed me that I was invited. I sat and read a book while dusk drew in. I had filled one of the suet feeders yesterday afternoon, and was amazed, because I had just filled it Friday. This morning, I was awakened at 1:25 by a very loud bit of squabbling outside - turns out a family of raccoons was raiding the suet feeder, and they were fussing at one another. No wonder the entire suet block is disappearing in less than 8 hours!
Boo ate some of the dry kibble I left for her yesterday morning, so I want to check in and see if she has continued eating. She used to take longer than her Mom to eat, but she was usually finished eating her portion (twice a day) in a bout five minutes. She's only been eating a mouthful, or so, once a day. She's alert, but is losing weight, and is now losing some of her energy. We're all worried about her.
If you live in the Fort Collins or Boulder area, and want to adopt a cat, please visit the Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay and Neuter Clinic - they have recently received 150 cats and kittens under 6 months of age, and are seeking adoptive homes, foster homes, and donations. You can visit their web site at: http://www.fccrsnc.org/
Nedi was waiting for me at the front door his morning when I returned home, but Lovey gave me the cold shoulder. It took her 30 minutes to decide that I could give her some love and attention... Now she's sitting at the top of the cat tree and is looking out into the back yard. I'll need to round up Nedi and Bob in a few minutes, and get ready to head back to Tess's house.
Boo ate some of the dry kibble I left for her yesterday morning, so I want to check in and see if she has continued eating. She used to take longer than her Mom to eat, but she was usually finished eating her portion (twice a day) in a bout five minutes. She's only been eating a mouthful, or so, once a day. She's alert, but is losing weight, and is now losing some of her energy. We're all worried about her.
If you live in the Fort Collins or Boulder area, and want to adopt a cat, please visit the Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay and Neuter Clinic - they have recently received 150 cats and kittens under 6 months of age, and are seeking adoptive homes, foster homes, and donations. You can visit their web site at: http://www.fccrsnc.org/
Nedi was waiting for me at the front door his morning when I returned home, but Lovey gave me the cold shoulder. It took her 30 minutes to decide that I could give her some love and attention... Now she's sitting at the top of the cat tree and is looking out into the back yard. I'll need to round up Nedi and Bob in a few minutes, and get ready to head back to Tess's house.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Bits And Pieces
The two mallard ducklings at the Wildlife Rehab Center have been put down - they were both blind and had serious head injuries that could not be healed. The man who reported the two boys throwing rocks has now said that he also observed two adult Canada geese pecking at the ducklings. Police have suspended their investigation, as the geese may have caused the ducklings' injuries.
A 50-year-old man has been given a deferred sentence, here in Boulder, after a plea deal. He says that he had a brain "glitch" the day he attacked two raccoons trapped in a dumpster and beat them to death with a nail-studded board. He stated that "many years ago" he saw his cat killed by a raccoon, and that last November, when he saw the raccoons seeking food in a trash dumpster, he felt the need to avenge his cat. The man was reported to police by several people who reported that the raccoons were "screaming and moaning" as the man killed them. He has to get "anger management" counseling, and if he doesn't attract police notice for the next two years, his felony animal cruelty charges will be dropped from his record. (I want to be a giant with huge nail-studded boards and be turned loose with this man in a dumpster.) No wonder the youth of our society has no regard for life of any kind....
A 59-year-old homeless woman was found dead in a city park 3 blocks from my apartment. The police are saying it was not a suspicious death.
I must admit I laughed when I read a local newspaper headline that asked, "Is Boulder a Homeless Magnet?" My answer would be an unequivocal Yes. Having been a user of public transit for the past eight years, and frequently riding on bus routes that stop at the Boulder Homeless Shelter, as well as many Homeless assistance programs, I have heard so many conversations about the easy hand-outs available in Boulder, that I am almost sick of it. Believe it or not, I do feel deeply for the people who have lost their jobs and their homes due to the economy and other issues beyond their control. But more than half of the homeless in Boulder have chosen to be homeless. Sitting quietly on the bus, in my dowdy work clothes, I hear men and women talking about how they move from town to town, coast to coast, and which cities have the most lenient programs for give-aways of food, lodging, learning, clothing and medical assistance. Some of these folks winter in Florida or Arizona, spend the Spring or Fall in Oregon or Washington state, and come spend the summer in Boulder. It's astounding, if one opens their ears and listens.
Finally, this Friday, at Pimlico, there will be a Hall of Fame Jockey Challenge series - seven of eight active Hall of Fame jockeys will compete in four races on 16 May for a prize of $50,000. (And I have the feeling that the prize money will be donated back into the Injured Jockeys Fund.) The four races are the second, fourth, sixth and eighth races on the daily card, and the jockeys will accrue points for finishing in first through fourth place. The jockeys who will participate are: Edgar Prado, Kent Desormeaux, Russell Baze, Mike Smith, Alexis Solis, Calvin Borel and John Velazquez.... With the Pimlico Special and the Black-Eyed Susan on the same day, I certainly wish I could be there!
A 50-year-old man has been given a deferred sentence, here in Boulder, after a plea deal. He says that he had a brain "glitch" the day he attacked two raccoons trapped in a dumpster and beat them to death with a nail-studded board. He stated that "many years ago" he saw his cat killed by a raccoon, and that last November, when he saw the raccoons seeking food in a trash dumpster, he felt the need to avenge his cat. The man was reported to police by several people who reported that the raccoons were "screaming and moaning" as the man killed them. He has to get "anger management" counseling, and if he doesn't attract police notice for the next two years, his felony animal cruelty charges will be dropped from his record. (I want to be a giant with huge nail-studded boards and be turned loose with this man in a dumpster.) No wonder the youth of our society has no regard for life of any kind....
A 59-year-old homeless woman was found dead in a city park 3 blocks from my apartment. The police are saying it was not a suspicious death.
I must admit I laughed when I read a local newspaper headline that asked, "Is Boulder a Homeless Magnet?" My answer would be an unequivocal Yes. Having been a user of public transit for the past eight years, and frequently riding on bus routes that stop at the Boulder Homeless Shelter, as well as many Homeless assistance programs, I have heard so many conversations about the easy hand-outs available in Boulder, that I am almost sick of it. Believe it or not, I do feel deeply for the people who have lost their jobs and their homes due to the economy and other issues beyond their control. But more than half of the homeless in Boulder have chosen to be homeless. Sitting quietly on the bus, in my dowdy work clothes, I hear men and women talking about how they move from town to town, coast to coast, and which cities have the most lenient programs for give-aways of food, lodging, learning, clothing and medical assistance. Some of these folks winter in Florida or Arizona, spend the Spring or Fall in Oregon or Washington state, and come spend the summer in Boulder. It's astounding, if one opens their ears and listens.
Finally, this Friday, at Pimlico, there will be a Hall of Fame Jockey Challenge series - seven of eight active Hall of Fame jockeys will compete in four races on 16 May for a prize of $50,000. (And I have the feeling that the prize money will be donated back into the Injured Jockeys Fund.) The four races are the second, fourth, sixth and eighth races on the daily card, and the jockeys will accrue points for finishing in first through fourth place. The jockeys who will participate are: Edgar Prado, Kent Desormeaux, Russell Baze, Mike Smith, Alexis Solis, Calvin Borel and John Velazquez.... With the Pimlico Special and the Black-Eyed Susan on the same day, I certainly wish I could be there!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Beating a Raccoon to Death....
This is from today's edition of The Boulder Daily Camera, our local newspaper:
"The Boulder City Attorney's Office has filed municipal charges against the University of Colorado student accused of killing a raccoon with a baseball bat last year so he could "take its' hide." Jace Robert Griffiths, aged 20, was charged with subjecting animals to unnecessary suffering, killing prohibited wild animals, and littering, Boulder city prosecutor Janet Michaels said this morning. (Littering is one of the municipal violations for which the Boulder City Council is currently considering reinstating jail time.)
Griffiths originally was charged in the Boulder District Court with one count of felony aggravated animal cruelty, but the Boulder District Attorney's Office later dismissed the charges, saying Colorado law allows the killing of "fur-bearers" - including raccoons - during certain seasons for people with a proper license. At the time, District Attorney Stan Garrett said he planned to turn the case over to the city attorney for consideration of municipal violations. Griffiths could not immediately be reached for comment this morning.
According to a police report, officers were called to Griffiths' home in the 2800 block of Springdale Lane on 6 November 2013 on a report of a person killing raccoons. When officers arrived, they found a baseball bat covered in blodd on the front porch of the house, along with a raccoon skin covered in salt. The porch was covered in what appeared to be dried blood, according to the report.
In a written statement, Griffiths said the raccoon came out of a trash dumpster and was walking toward him and a friend. "We could have walked away, but I decided to go up and kill it, so that I could take its' hide," Griffiths wrote in the statement. "I immediately regretted hitting it, but, rather than throwing it out, I took the hide and threw the remains in the bottom Dumpster." " ~~~~
I still cannot understand the reasoning behind this attack and killing. Why would a person want a single raccoon hide? Raccoon coats were all the rage 90 years ago - but a single pelt won't make much more than a cap. Did he want a "coonskin cap?" I know a lot of folks who collect raccoon tails - but what would a city boy do with a single hide from a raccoon?
"The Boulder City Attorney's Office has filed municipal charges against the University of Colorado student accused of killing a raccoon with a baseball bat last year so he could "take its' hide." Jace Robert Griffiths, aged 20, was charged with subjecting animals to unnecessary suffering, killing prohibited wild animals, and littering, Boulder city prosecutor Janet Michaels said this morning. (Littering is one of the municipal violations for which the Boulder City Council is currently considering reinstating jail time.)
Griffiths originally was charged in the Boulder District Court with one count of felony aggravated animal cruelty, but the Boulder District Attorney's Office later dismissed the charges, saying Colorado law allows the killing of "fur-bearers" - including raccoons - during certain seasons for people with a proper license. At the time, District Attorney Stan Garrett said he planned to turn the case over to the city attorney for consideration of municipal violations. Griffiths could not immediately be reached for comment this morning.
According to a police report, officers were called to Griffiths' home in the 2800 block of Springdale Lane on 6 November 2013 on a report of a person killing raccoons. When officers arrived, they found a baseball bat covered in blodd on the front porch of the house, along with a raccoon skin covered in salt. The porch was covered in what appeared to be dried blood, according to the report.
In a written statement, Griffiths said the raccoon came out of a trash dumpster and was walking toward him and a friend. "We could have walked away, but I decided to go up and kill it, so that I could take its' hide," Griffiths wrote in the statement. "I immediately regretted hitting it, but, rather than throwing it out, I took the hide and threw the remains in the bottom Dumpster." " ~~~~
I still cannot understand the reasoning behind this attack and killing. Why would a person want a single raccoon hide? Raccoon coats were all the rage 90 years ago - but a single pelt won't make much more than a cap. Did he want a "coonskin cap?" I know a lot of folks who collect raccoon tails - but what would a city boy do with a single hide from a raccoon?
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Loving Animals - Where Are We Headed?
I love all creatures - all animals - and I definitely cry and grieve when a pet is lost. On the other side, I also enjoy eating meat, along with fruits, grains, and vegetables. I like red meat and white meat. Some animals are raised for eating, and others are not. I was brought up understanding this, and I always include whatever I'm eating in my mealtime prayer - thanking it for supplying me with food, to continue my life. I love my two cats as much as I would love a child; they are my intimate companions.
I have known a lot of people who have never connected, on a personal level, with anything other than another human, or with a machine (some men and their cars or trucks). I have been asked many times, why do you care so much about animals? They are just that - animals. My response is that someone needs to care somewhere at sometime. I don't relate well to people with no feelings or any empathy for other living things. Animals feel fear, hunger, want and need - even if they don't use those terms. We humans are animals, supposedly the most highly evolved species on our planet. If we can't care for other creatures, who are supposed to be less intelligent than we are, are we really "human?"
I was appalled to read about a 12-year-old horse in Alabama - she was found early one morning by her young owner, on the ground, covered in blood. She had been stabbed in the neck 8 times, and one of the cuts had nicked her jugular vein. Besides the stab wounds, the mare's wonderful, long chestnut mane had been hacked off. Ruby was lucky to survive the attack; she had lost a lot of blood, and ended up spending two weeks at the veterinarian's stable block. She lost a lot of weight, was dehydrated, and depressed. Once she was returned to her home pasture and barn, she began to heal and make much better physical progress. In the meantime, it has been decided that all horses at that barn will have very short, if not roached, manes, because the sheriff cannot guarantee that this is an isolated incident.
Here in Boulder, I was shocked to read that the police had been called to a house on University Hill, where they found blood splatters all over the front porch, the front door, and the front of the house. It was the blood of a raccoon. Neighbors reported the young man living there was "beating something that screamed" with a stick or bat. The young man admitted to killing the raccoon with a baseball bat, and gave the bat to the police as evidence. He told police that he had "wanted the hide", and that when the raccoon hadn't died with the first blow, he felt remorse - but he continued to bludgeon it to death. He took the police to a very raw and poorly cut raccoon skin that was covered under a layer of rock salt. How can a person - a grown man - with "human" feelings do such a thing?
I have killed a deer for food. I have killed rattlesnakes after they struck and poisoned horses, cats, and dogs. I have performed a few "mercy killings" - a young rabbit with a broken back that was keening terribly, a young chicken that a dog had attacked, and ripped off both legs and a wing. But I killed those two quickly, and to prevent further suffering while the animal awaited an unpleasant death. I killed the deer in season, with a hunting permit, for venison. I admit I killed the rattlers in revenge and anger, and to rid the property of a poisonous, deadly snake. - But to kill because I "wanted a hide?" To stab an innocent horse while removing it's protection from flies? Those actions are not right or moral.
As I get older, I wonder more and more about our younger generations - do they regard living organisms with any type of respect? Or, in this age of iPhones and iPods and iPads, does the younger generation see every living thing as something to be used (to their satisfaction) and then thrown away?
I have known a lot of people who have never connected, on a personal level, with anything other than another human, or with a machine (some men and their cars or trucks). I have been asked many times, why do you care so much about animals? They are just that - animals. My response is that someone needs to care somewhere at sometime. I don't relate well to people with no feelings or any empathy for other living things. Animals feel fear, hunger, want and need - even if they don't use those terms. We humans are animals, supposedly the most highly evolved species on our planet. If we can't care for other creatures, who are supposed to be less intelligent than we are, are we really "human?"
I was appalled to read about a 12-year-old horse in Alabama - she was found early one morning by her young owner, on the ground, covered in blood. She had been stabbed in the neck 8 times, and one of the cuts had nicked her jugular vein. Besides the stab wounds, the mare's wonderful, long chestnut mane had been hacked off. Ruby was lucky to survive the attack; she had lost a lot of blood, and ended up spending two weeks at the veterinarian's stable block. She lost a lot of weight, was dehydrated, and depressed. Once she was returned to her home pasture and barn, she began to heal and make much better physical progress. In the meantime, it has been decided that all horses at that barn will have very short, if not roached, manes, because the sheriff cannot guarantee that this is an isolated incident.
Here in Boulder, I was shocked to read that the police had been called to a house on University Hill, where they found blood splatters all over the front porch, the front door, and the front of the house. It was the blood of a raccoon. Neighbors reported the young man living there was "beating something that screamed" with a stick or bat. The young man admitted to killing the raccoon with a baseball bat, and gave the bat to the police as evidence. He told police that he had "wanted the hide", and that when the raccoon hadn't died with the first blow, he felt remorse - but he continued to bludgeon it to death. He took the police to a very raw and poorly cut raccoon skin that was covered under a layer of rock salt. How can a person - a grown man - with "human" feelings do such a thing?
I have killed a deer for food. I have killed rattlesnakes after they struck and poisoned horses, cats, and dogs. I have performed a few "mercy killings" - a young rabbit with a broken back that was keening terribly, a young chicken that a dog had attacked, and ripped off both legs and a wing. But I killed those two quickly, and to prevent further suffering while the animal awaited an unpleasant death. I killed the deer in season, with a hunting permit, for venison. I admit I killed the rattlers in revenge and anger, and to rid the property of a poisonous, deadly snake. - But to kill because I "wanted a hide?" To stab an innocent horse while removing it's protection from flies? Those actions are not right or moral.
As I get older, I wonder more and more about our younger generations - do they regard living organisms with any type of respect? Or, in this age of iPhones and iPods and iPads, does the younger generation see every living thing as something to be used (to their satisfaction) and then thrown away?
Sunday, September 1, 2013
A Noisy Sunday Morning
Thankfully, the two neighbors on either side say they didn't hear anything - but I opened the back door for Lola and Cooper to relieve themselves before breakfast without looking outside. Even if I had looked, I wouldn't have seen the culprits that set Cooper off, circling the second deck, to my right, and barking like an idiot - at 6:30 in the morning. I had already fed Rosie and chased a raccoon from her back yard before going over to Tamarack. Then Cooper started acting the fool, wouldn't quiet down, or calm down, either. Lola was prancing around the second deck, but, luckily, stayed silent. I walked over to the second deck, and didn't see anything. There was nothing in the pine tree at the corner, where both dogs kept circling. Then I stepped up on the deck, and glanced up at the wire netting that holds the grape arbor - first, I saw several almost ripe clusters of grapes, then I saw a large raccoon flattened out on the top of the wire, with it's eyes closed. I got both dogs back inside and went to peek out the window - there were three young raccoons lying flat on top of the wire further to the right than their mother They all opened their eyes and looked at me, and then squeezed them shut again - seemingly, if they couldn't see me, then I couldn't see them. So I took the kids out for a walk, and double-checked the back yard when we returned. No raccoons. So I could open the deck door without qualms, and allow both cats and dogs outside.
Most of the collegiate teams I like won their openers yesterday, while the CU Buffaloes and the CSU Rams face off today in Denver, for their opening game of the season. Somehow, since Tim Tebow was released from the Patriots yesterday afternoon, I just can't get my mind interested in football any more. Since I graduated from UF, I will root for the Gators; since Steve Spurrier coaches South Carolina, I'll cheer for the Gamecocks. But, suddenly, pro football seems like a waste of time. I have been a fan of Champ Bailey's since he was a Georgia Bulldog (what a horrifying admission from a Gator fan!), but he's the last guy left on the Broncos that I really like. I'll watch the Broncos - Ravens game Thursday night - but it will be to see (maybe) Champ Bailey, and for Elvis Dumervil on the Ravens. If Percy Harvin were playing, I'd be rooting for his team, and the same goes for Tebow. But most of the players that I really like have disappeared. So why get all hot and bothered?
Most of the collegiate teams I like won their openers yesterday, while the CU Buffaloes and the CSU Rams face off today in Denver, for their opening game of the season. Somehow, since Tim Tebow was released from the Patriots yesterday afternoon, I just can't get my mind interested in football any more. Since I graduated from UF, I will root for the Gators; since Steve Spurrier coaches South Carolina, I'll cheer for the Gamecocks. But, suddenly, pro football seems like a waste of time. I have been a fan of Champ Bailey's since he was a Georgia Bulldog (what a horrifying admission from a Gator fan!), but he's the last guy left on the Broncos that I really like. I'll watch the Broncos - Ravens game Thursday night - but it will be to see (maybe) Champ Bailey, and for Elvis Dumervil on the Ravens. If Percy Harvin were playing, I'd be rooting for his team, and the same goes for Tebow. But most of the players that I really like have disappeared. So why get all hot and bothered?
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Raccoons, a Black Bear, and a Leaky Pipe
Yesterday turned out to be very interesting: a black bear in the yard and a pipe leaking in the basement. Rosie started barking at 4:45 yesterday morning, trying to open the French doors, and ripping a small hole in a window screen. I woke up as soon as she left the bed, and followed her downstairs. Luckily, at that point in time, we were being visited by an adult and three juvenile raccoons. I made certain that all the French doors were locked (they have lever-type door handles and Rosie can easily open them), and then I ended up closing all the windows to save the screening. Rosie spent two hours barking hysterically at the raccoons, who had a blast parading right under the windows and sitting on the edge of the deck, as though they were taunting her. Once they left, I took her for her morning walk, fed her breakfast, and watched her collapse into a very deep sleep.
The deep sleep was good, because then I received a call from her owner (who's vacationing in NYC) saying they had just received an e-mail from a neighbor warning about a black bear wandering the neighborhood. Yesterday was also the day that the lawn crew comes and mows the back yard, so both gates were wide open. While Rosie was out cold, the adult male black bear came visiting - had a drink from the koi pond, but didn't eat any of the carp, sat on the cover of the hot tub, and investigated the lawn furniture. Then he just ambled out the gate and over to one of the neighbors' yards. I'd guess he was a young adult - he was big, but not huge, and there was no scarring on his muzzle.
The house keeper arrived yesterday afternoon, and announced she was scrubbing the tile floor in the TV room - so I grabbed the lap top and Rosie and we retired to the living room. About 30 minutes later, I heard Modesta calling me - so I followed her voice down into the basement. There was water all over the concrete floor in the water heater room, and it had flooded down the steps into the lower storage area. I called the owners immediately and got directions on where the water main valve was and closed it. Then I had to find the leak - a stretch of a bout a foot of piping that water was dripping from. I told them where the pipe was located and it turns out that's where they had a leak 4 months ago. The plumbing company is due here today, sometime between 1 and 3 this afternoon.
So Modesta and I got to "dry" the basement... I have a tip for you: if you are removing standing water from a concrete/cement surface, one of the best things you can use is a plastic flat-bottomed dust pan. You can run the base along the floor and scoop up large amounts of water. Modesta and I were able to gather more than 20 gallons of water from the floor, using this manner. Then we ended up using old fashioned mops. There is still a little bit of water on the floor, but it is gradually evaporating. Thank goodness that Modesta thought she heard water running when it shouldn't be - she investigated and saved all the stuff stored in the basement. - Me, I check the up stairs and the ground floor, the yard, garage, and take care of the dog... I haven't been downstairs in the basement in years. Now I feel I need to check the basement every day....
The deep sleep was good, because then I received a call from her owner (who's vacationing in NYC) saying they had just received an e-mail from a neighbor warning about a black bear wandering the neighborhood. Yesterday was also the day that the lawn crew comes and mows the back yard, so both gates were wide open. While Rosie was out cold, the adult male black bear came visiting - had a drink from the koi pond, but didn't eat any of the carp, sat on the cover of the hot tub, and investigated the lawn furniture. Then he just ambled out the gate and over to one of the neighbors' yards. I'd guess he was a young adult - he was big, but not huge, and there was no scarring on his muzzle.
The house keeper arrived yesterday afternoon, and announced she was scrubbing the tile floor in the TV room - so I grabbed the lap top and Rosie and we retired to the living room. About 30 minutes later, I heard Modesta calling me - so I followed her voice down into the basement. There was water all over the concrete floor in the water heater room, and it had flooded down the steps into the lower storage area. I called the owners immediately and got directions on where the water main valve was and closed it. Then I had to find the leak - a stretch of a bout a foot of piping that water was dripping from. I told them where the pipe was located and it turns out that's where they had a leak 4 months ago. The plumbing company is due here today, sometime between 1 and 3 this afternoon.
So Modesta and I got to "dry" the basement... I have a tip for you: if you are removing standing water from a concrete/cement surface, one of the best things you can use is a plastic flat-bottomed dust pan. You can run the base along the floor and scoop up large amounts of water. Modesta and I were able to gather more than 20 gallons of water from the floor, using this manner. Then we ended up using old fashioned mops. There is still a little bit of water on the floor, but it is gradually evaporating. Thank goodness that Modesta thought she heard water running when it shouldn't be - she investigated and saved all the stuff stored in the basement. - Me, I check the up stairs and the ground floor, the yard, garage, and take care of the dog... I haven't been downstairs in the basement in years. Now I feel I need to check the basement every day....
Monday, September 24, 2012
Usual Critters and a New Telephone
I saw the sun for the first time today at 5:40 p.m. - it felt kinda weird, because the high temperature was 82, but there was thick cloud cover all day. We had a few spits of rain throughout the morning - not enough to even get my shirt wet while walking the Rs. Remy's hind legs are getting worse: he usually stumbles (toe knuckles under) two or three times on the way to the Snow house; he did that eight times this morning, and his legs gave way twice while he was in the yard. It's not pretty - and he knows that something is wrong, and he looks at you so apologetically when he falls... Nancy and Joel will have to make a very hard decision soon, I'm afraid. But, on the bright side, I did see Brandi and Peach today - they are both still chugging away; and 22-year-old Ooch was sitting in the bay window at his house this morning, too.
My telephone died yesterday. I knew something was up, because for the past three days the volume has been extremely loud, and I couldn't lower it. Last night, the star and pound buttons gave up the ghost - and I have to press both buttons to retrieve my voice mail. So I bought a new phone today - "an old fogey's phone" was the way the employee at the store described it, when he thought I was out of hearing range. I wanted to laugh out loud in his face, but I didn't. It's a phone that is a land line, and it will work even if the power goes out. It has Caller ID, and it also has four sets of rings, each louder than the other, which I keep on the lowest sound. The Caller ID screen tilts, so I can always make the screen viewable, and it has 10 audio levels. It's almost exactly like the one it replaces, which was 17 years old....
I just had to go outside and rescue Nedi. Lovey was sitting on the cat tree, looking out, and I heard the unmistakable howl of a territorial cat. I thought it was Lovey, and that the raccoons were advancing. I looked out, and Speedy Taco, the cat from the end of the building, had poor Nedi cornered, and was howling and growling at him. Nedi had no idea what to do - he was just trying to make himself into a smaller black ball. I gently got Speedy to leave, then collected Nedi; at which time Lovey decided to chase Speedy, so I had to go after her, as well...
My telephone died yesterday. I knew something was up, because for the past three days the volume has been extremely loud, and I couldn't lower it. Last night, the star and pound buttons gave up the ghost - and I have to press both buttons to retrieve my voice mail. So I bought a new phone today - "an old fogey's phone" was the way the employee at the store described it, when he thought I was out of hearing range. I wanted to laugh out loud in his face, but I didn't. It's a phone that is a land line, and it will work even if the power goes out. It has Caller ID, and it also has four sets of rings, each louder than the other, which I keep on the lowest sound. The Caller ID screen tilts, so I can always make the screen viewable, and it has 10 audio levels. It's almost exactly like the one it replaces, which was 17 years old....
I just had to go outside and rescue Nedi. Lovey was sitting on the cat tree, looking out, and I heard the unmistakable howl of a territorial cat. I thought it was Lovey, and that the raccoons were advancing. I looked out, and Speedy Taco, the cat from the end of the building, had poor Nedi cornered, and was howling and growling at him. Nedi had no idea what to do - he was just trying to make himself into a smaller black ball. I gently got Speedy to leave, then collected Nedi; at which time Lovey decided to chase Speedy, so I had to go after her, as well...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Even More Young Critters
At first glance, I thought these were weirdly-colored flowers; then I realized it was 13 hatchlings - 10 have their mouths open for food - in the nest of a Big Tit (that's a bird in England, folks).
A young bobcat exploring a rocky area
A pair of young raccoons
A year-old red fox stretches and yawns in the sun
Monday, September 17, 2012
Snowing on the Continental Divide Today
I turned on the TV when I got up this morning, and the local channel immediately went to a split-view of the Eisenhower Tunnel at the Continental Divide - it was snowing on one side and raining on the other. What a wonderful sight! It was cool down here in Boulder - temperatures in the 60s, and a cool breeze, with partly cloudy skies. I have been bummed about the loses of my two pro teams yesterday, and it looks like tonight might be even worse. The Broncos turned the ball over 4 times in the first quarter; there's 4.5 minutes left in the first half, and the Falcons lead 20 to 0. The officials in tonight's game have been awful - it took over 60 minutes to actually play the first quarter because of bugaboos with the referees. This game totally stinks.
The kits are inside, here at home, even though the door is open. We're expecting a low of about 40 tonight, and I already have the window closed. I laughed last night, as both the kits came in, and stood just inside the patio door - and both of their tails were slashing. I peeked out, and the mother raccoon was about to lead her four kits back into the Devine diner. I stepped out, and she stepped forward. I stomped my feet and hissed, and she retreated off the patio, so I closed the patio door for the night. In talking with Chris, my neighbor, he told me that every time he steps out, momma raccoon advances toward him and it totally freaks him out. The raccoons have eaten almost every one of his tomatoes....
I know that there will be horses entered in the Breeders Cup races at Santa Anita in November. But I really wonder who will be entered from this years three-year-old colts. Hansen has definitely been retired, Union Rags and I'll Have Another are retired; Paynter, who ran second in the Belmont to Union Rags, has been off track with diarrhea and a temperature, which turned into laminitis - luckily, he is expected to recover. Potesta, a three-year-old filly who won the Hollywood Oaks last month, was taking an easy gallop on Friday morning when she suffered a condylar fracture of her left foreleg. Surgery was scheduled for either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, in hopes of saving her life, and her becoming a broodmare. There has been no word of her since Saturday morning. What is wrong with our racing horses today? Supposedly, we have better medicines, better veterinarians, better testing equipment, better feed, better trainers, better track surfaces - why can't three-year-olds finish a second (sometimes a first) full season of races? I still think we (Americans) are doing irreparable harm to the thoroughbred horse in breeding for speed, speed, and more speed....
The kits are inside, here at home, even though the door is open. We're expecting a low of about 40 tonight, and I already have the window closed. I laughed last night, as both the kits came in, and stood just inside the patio door - and both of their tails were slashing. I peeked out, and the mother raccoon was about to lead her four kits back into the Devine diner. I stepped out, and she stepped forward. I stomped my feet and hissed, and she retreated off the patio, so I closed the patio door for the night. In talking with Chris, my neighbor, he told me that every time he steps out, momma raccoon advances toward him and it totally freaks him out. The raccoons have eaten almost every one of his tomatoes....
I know that there will be horses entered in the Breeders Cup races at Santa Anita in November. But I really wonder who will be entered from this years three-year-old colts. Hansen has definitely been retired, Union Rags and I'll Have Another are retired; Paynter, who ran second in the Belmont to Union Rags, has been off track with diarrhea and a temperature, which turned into laminitis - luckily, he is expected to recover. Potesta, a three-year-old filly who won the Hollywood Oaks last month, was taking an easy gallop on Friday morning when she suffered a condylar fracture of her left foreleg. Surgery was scheduled for either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, in hopes of saving her life, and her becoming a broodmare. There has been no word of her since Saturday morning. What is wrong with our racing horses today? Supposedly, we have better medicines, better veterinarians, better testing equipment, better feed, better trainers, better track surfaces - why can't three-year-olds finish a second (sometimes a first) full season of races? I still think we (Americans) are doing irreparable harm to the thoroughbred horse in breeding for speed, speed, and more speed....
Friday, August 24, 2012
Strange Night....
It's my own fault, I know. But I was glad I had purchased a new straw broom last week, and left it in my walk-in closet/dressing room. I watched one of my favorite movies last night, Die Hard, and followed it up with last night's episode of Person of Interest. It was cooler than it has been, and the kits were enjoying running in and out and catching bugs, so I had left both the sliding glass door and the screen door to the patio open about a foot in width. At the end of Person of Interest, I turned the TV off, and wandered into the bathroom, relieved myself, brushed my teeth, and put on my long cotton sleep shirt. As I turned to exit the bathroom, Lovey came in, talking away. Then Nedi came to the dressing room doorway, and seemed to be checking over his shoulder... I walked on out and found five raccoons in my apartment. I know that Momma 'Coon brings her four youngsters along and, essentially, they "quarter" the back yard each night around 10 p.m. I just didn't really expect them to be bold enough to come in through my door. Dumb me!
It was one of the younger kits that I first met; it hissed and stayed right where it was, looking over it's shoulder for Mom's back-up. I couldn't help it: I started to laugh. Two of the youngsters were eating from the two types of dry food that I have in kitty dishes, Mom was eating salmon in gravy canned food; the fourth youngster was investigating the door of the refrigerator. None of the critters seemed interested in leaving. Lovey and Nedi were staying behind my legs, with occasional growls and hisses erupting. First, I tried to look larger than I am - I swung my arms out like the Tasmanian Devil in the cartoons, and hissed and growled. I got looks from all of the intruders, but nothing else. So I started to look around in the closet/dressing room, and I spied the new straw broom.
It's a little ragged in places right now, but I consider the missing areas of straw as war wounds. I ended up literally sweeping the first (closest) youngster back through the back door, then the one at the 'fridge. Mom and the two young'uns together are the ones who bit and tore at the broom, as I pushed them along the tiled floor and out the back door. I closed the glass door and locked it. Lovey got up in the cat tree, and Nedi crawled behind the glass door's curtain, so they could both lord it over the raccoons who had been sent packing. I dumped and washed the old cat food bowls; then filled up new clean ones. The raccoon family stayed for another half hour, trying to convince me to open the door and feed them some more - but I didn't.
I'll have to keep an eye on the time, the kits, and the raccoons tonight!
It was one of the younger kits that I first met; it hissed and stayed right where it was, looking over it's shoulder for Mom's back-up. I couldn't help it: I started to laugh. Two of the youngsters were eating from the two types of dry food that I have in kitty dishes, Mom was eating salmon in gravy canned food; the fourth youngster was investigating the door of the refrigerator. None of the critters seemed interested in leaving. Lovey and Nedi were staying behind my legs, with occasional growls and hisses erupting. First, I tried to look larger than I am - I swung my arms out like the Tasmanian Devil in the cartoons, and hissed and growled. I got looks from all of the intruders, but nothing else. So I started to look around in the closet/dressing room, and I spied the new straw broom.
It's a little ragged in places right now, but I consider the missing areas of straw as war wounds. I ended up literally sweeping the first (closest) youngster back through the back door, then the one at the 'fridge. Mom and the two young'uns together are the ones who bit and tore at the broom, as I pushed them along the tiled floor and out the back door. I closed the glass door and locked it. Lovey got up in the cat tree, and Nedi crawled behind the glass door's curtain, so they could both lord it over the raccoons who had been sent packing. I dumped and washed the old cat food bowls; then filled up new clean ones. The raccoon family stayed for another half hour, trying to convince me to open the door and feed them some more - but I didn't.
I'll have to keep an eye on the time, the kits, and the raccoons tonight!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
London, the Arts, Ramsah, and Books
It's been 25 years since I was last in London - I don't particularly like crowds, but if I could see the Equestrian events at the Olympic Games this summer, I'd be there. I did have to laugh as I read that, with over 237,000 people arriving at Heathrow Airport yesterday (most of them Olympic athletes), one bus load full of athletes got lost on its way to the Olympic village. One has to wonder how much training the bus drivers have received - I know that cab drivers in London have to study for years to get licensed....
This weekend, besides the Queen City Horse Show in Denver for Saddlebreds, Peruvian Paso Finos, Arabs, half-Arabs, Sport horses, Fresians, half-Fresians, Hackneys, etc., there is also an open air Arts Festival taking place in Boulder, on the Pearl Street Mall. Artists from around the world, and several local talents, are participating on Saturday and Sunday - with items ranging from paintings and photography, to wood and metal sculpture, weaving, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. At the moment, our forecast calls for very hot, very dry weather for the area - so if any one goes to either event, please stay hydrated, and avoid excessive over-heating.
The past few nights, I have been in the back yard between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight, and have been happy to see momma raccoon and 4 youngsters searching the yard for edibles. Last night, I was trying to observe Ramsah when the cute critters appeared; and I had to walk forward and convince Momma that Ramsah was not to be thought of as a potential meal. Nancy has been managing to keep Ramsah's weight between 10.8 and 11.1 pounds; last night she was at 10.8, and then Ramsah had urinated under Nancy's bed - Nancy grabbed her, causing Ramsah to squeak, and then Nancy panicked, so I was called from my bed to check Ramsah, while in my nightgown. Ramsah was OK - but she had either not quite finished urinating when Nancy had grabbed her, or she just finished relieving herself in the grass out back when Nancy let her go. In any event - Ramsah was OK, but had pee on her hind-end - whether from stepping in it, or being pulled through it by Nancy, or having laid in it, I don't know. I do know that I am losing my patience with Nancy, and I don't want to do that - but recently, I can't even go to the bathroom without her phoning me, and if I don't answer immediately, she lets herself into the apartment, calling my name. I am not happy with this development. I am going to have to set some rules down and enforce them.
Today is the day I don't walk Rosie and Remy - my kits have been running in and out of the back door since 6 a.m. - and the only thing I need to do today is return some library books and grab some new ones to read. (I do have 5 new books on order, and they are in the process of being shipped here at the moment - but I still need something to occupy my mind....)
This weekend, besides the Queen City Horse Show in Denver for Saddlebreds, Peruvian Paso Finos, Arabs, half-Arabs, Sport horses, Fresians, half-Fresians, Hackneys, etc., there is also an open air Arts Festival taking place in Boulder, on the Pearl Street Mall. Artists from around the world, and several local talents, are participating on Saturday and Sunday - with items ranging from paintings and photography, to wood and metal sculpture, weaving, ceramics, glass, and jewelry. At the moment, our forecast calls for very hot, very dry weather for the area - so if any one goes to either event, please stay hydrated, and avoid excessive over-heating.
The past few nights, I have been in the back yard between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight, and have been happy to see momma raccoon and 4 youngsters searching the yard for edibles. Last night, I was trying to observe Ramsah when the cute critters appeared; and I had to walk forward and convince Momma that Ramsah was not to be thought of as a potential meal. Nancy has been managing to keep Ramsah's weight between 10.8 and 11.1 pounds; last night she was at 10.8, and then Ramsah had urinated under Nancy's bed - Nancy grabbed her, causing Ramsah to squeak, and then Nancy panicked, so I was called from my bed to check Ramsah, while in my nightgown. Ramsah was OK - but she had either not quite finished urinating when Nancy had grabbed her, or she just finished relieving herself in the grass out back when Nancy let her go. In any event - Ramsah was OK, but had pee on her hind-end - whether from stepping in it, or being pulled through it by Nancy, or having laid in it, I don't know. I do know that I am losing my patience with Nancy, and I don't want to do that - but recently, I can't even go to the bathroom without her phoning me, and if I don't answer immediately, she lets herself into the apartment, calling my name. I am not happy with this development. I am going to have to set some rules down and enforce them.
Today is the day I don't walk Rosie and Remy - my kits have been running in and out of the back door since 6 a.m. - and the only thing I need to do today is return some library books and grab some new ones to read. (I do have 5 new books on order, and they are in the process of being shipped here at the moment - but I still need something to occupy my mind....)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Night Sightings
I had hoped the past two days of news were just a nightmare - but when I turned on the local news this morning, the first ad I saw was Peyton Manning sitting in front of a split Denver Broncos - KUSA Channel 9 News screen, saying, "Hi, I'm Peyton Manning. You're watching 9 News, home of the Denver Broncos." It seems I did not dream the past few days. It seems pretty much accepted that Tim Tebow will be traded before the end of this week. May I scream?
I left Kathy and Jim's house just before 9 p.m. Saturday night, to walk to the bus stop. I had a small flash light in my hand, but preferred to let my eyes adjust to the darkness (there are no street lights in the neighborhood). I had just past the east end of their yard when I heard the scrabble of claws on the pavement behind me; I quickly flicked the flash on, and saw a red fox crossing the road behind me. Turning the light back off, I continued walking in the middle of the residential road toward 26th Street. Soon I discerned a dark shape coming toward me, almost on a collision course. It appeared to be someone bent over the handlebars of a bicycle, their head nodding with each leg stroke, as if the person was exhausted. I said, "Hey. You really need a light on your bike." This got no response, so I said, louder, "It's really dangerous to ride..." and then I stopped. I realized my mistake. It wasn't a person on a bike, it was a mule deer walking towards me in the dark. - Boy, did I feel stupid! - I made it the rest of the way to the bus stop without incident - except scaring a raccoon, who ran up a cottonwood tree and then hissed at me, when I turned the light on it. I enjoy walking through the neighborhood, especially in the dark, when most critters don't perceive me as a threat.
Getting ready to go walk the red kids, and this evening it'll be feeding the Thore girls. I have to admit I saw the Jamie Lee Curtis interview on Jay Leno Monday night, so I kept myself braced for the NCIS episode last night. It was nice to get to see Gibbs kiss someone, and it was nice that they didn't immediately crawl into bed.... but I didn't see anything I'd get upset about. (JLC had said that some women were going to hate her after the episode aired. Hate? No. Envy? ..Maybe.....)
I left Kathy and Jim's house just before 9 p.m. Saturday night, to walk to the bus stop. I had a small flash light in my hand, but preferred to let my eyes adjust to the darkness (there are no street lights in the neighborhood). I had just past the east end of their yard when I heard the scrabble of claws on the pavement behind me; I quickly flicked the flash on, and saw a red fox crossing the road behind me. Turning the light back off, I continued walking in the middle of the residential road toward 26th Street. Soon I discerned a dark shape coming toward me, almost on a collision course. It appeared to be someone bent over the handlebars of a bicycle, their head nodding with each leg stroke, as if the person was exhausted. I said, "Hey. You really need a light on your bike." This got no response, so I said, louder, "It's really dangerous to ride..." and then I stopped. I realized my mistake. It wasn't a person on a bike, it was a mule deer walking towards me in the dark. - Boy, did I feel stupid! - I made it the rest of the way to the bus stop without incident - except scaring a raccoon, who ran up a cottonwood tree and then hissed at me, when I turned the light on it. I enjoy walking through the neighborhood, especially in the dark, when most critters don't perceive me as a threat.
Getting ready to go walk the red kids, and this evening it'll be feeding the Thore girls. I have to admit I saw the Jamie Lee Curtis interview on Jay Leno Monday night, so I kept myself braced for the NCIS episode last night. It was nice to get to see Gibbs kiss someone, and it was nice that they didn't immediately crawl into bed.... but I didn't see anything I'd get upset about. (JLC had said that some women were going to hate her after the episode aired. Hate? No. Envy? ..Maybe.....)
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