City vs. Country Wildlife

Living in the city there was a term used for older women who prowled the bar scene aggressively searching for men. They wore leopard print and 3 inches of makeup and topped the look off with lots of fake bling. They were known as cougars. You know the ones.  Well cougars take on an entirely new meaning in this neck of the woods. 

The cougars in this part of the country have been prowling. There have been more wildlife sightings in my neighbourhood in the last month than I remember in the 8 years I've been on the Island. A cougar was seen by the elementary school, in backyards and even one woman's living room!   I've never seen a cougar in the wild and I prefer to keep it that way unless it's far away and I'm safely enclosed somewhere cougars don't go.  

Our latest wildlife encounter  occurred just last week when a big black bear walked across our front lawn. It was very exciting. I was racing for the camera, the kids were yelling and the dog was barking! I caught a glimpse and then he/she was gone. They are magnificent beasts!  Unfortunately the reason for his visit was likely the development next door which is pushing him out of his comfortable home. 5 acre homes will take his place.  I the bear is also a little annoyed that we put up a fence between him and our apple trees but this didn't stopped one young bear from climbing the fence to have a nosh last year.  Maybe it was even the same bear.

Along with bears we've encountered bunnies, mice, shrew, deer, elk, eagles who ate our chicken and a weasel that did the same. I took some fabulous photos of the eagles as they perched in a tree waiting for more chicken buffet. I'm in awe of wildlife and it's beauty but really would prefer to keep it at a safe distance perhaps viewing it from behind the wheel of my car or sitting on a comfy bar stool.

photo credit: digitalART2 via photopin cc