Animals

Today was a day for wild animals.



The corgi girls HAD to go out at 3 am. I don't know why, but Jamie has it in her head that she needs a trip outside once during the night. Soon there was a lot of barking/howling. The coyotes were out too & having their say. I finally got the girls inside & tried to get another 2 1/2 hours of sleep.



Then while feeding the alpaca boys & rabbits this morning I could smell the skunk. Back when I was a "city girl", I thought the only time you smelled a skunk was when they sprayed. But now that I'm a "country girl" I know different. Skunks always have an odor around them, about 20 or 30 ft. around them. You can smell them as they walk anywhere semi-near where you are. After I fed the boys & headed back toward the front yard I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. There was the skunk waddling/running in the field across the road. He/she was headed toward Freda's shed or haystack. (Good I thought)



Today was a "Mom" day and I had things to do in Center. I picked up Mom to take her to a Dr. appt. in Salida. Before we made it to Saguache we had a herd of antelope cross the road in front of us. Then on the other side of Saguache there was a herd of deer beside the road.



As we returned to Center I saw an Eagle at the top of a tall tree about 5 miles north of town. He was so very pretty. I love being able to see the wild animals in God's nature. It was a good day for wild animals.

The Fox

I've seen "the fox" north of the house out in the field a number of times. He/she walks from the west toward the east early in the morning. Sometimes she seems to get close to the north loafing shed. I've seen footprints of "something" that walks mostly on top of the snow that we've had. They appear to be fox size or maybe skunk size or cat size (oh yes, I've smelled the skunk around before too).

This morning when I went out to feed, it was a little later than usual, probably 9:45 or so. By the time I made it to the yearling boys to the east of the barn it was probably about 10. As I was taking their hay out I heard a strange noise, kind of like a crow with a hoarse "caw" or a dog with a funny bark. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention until I looked at Azugar the older male alpaca. He was giving his "alarm" call that he does on a regular basis (I think he does it for practice, no one else has ever given the "alarm" call). Anyway I looked toward the old railroad car & discovered something was walking close by. I froze as it was about 25 ft. away. Sure enough, it was the fox. She was so pretty, bright red with a fluffy tail. She stopped & sat by the railroad car. I suddenly wondered where Jamie was as she typically follows me out to feed the boys..........luckily Jamie had stayed in the barn. I went over & shut the barn door to make sure she didn't come out. When I turned around the fox was gone. Perhaps I should take my camera along when I feed these days.