Last Night's Mini-Hunt

Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I heard what was either a cat fight or an attack on a cat by a coyote. I tend to think the latter as I only heard one cat. It sounded pretty close.

I decided to go out and check. The sound seemed to come from Barking Spider Acre, so I headed there with my Ruger P95 9mm pistol and a flashlight.

I went there but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. It was pitch dark outside with a fine display of stars in the sky. Fortunately, it was about 41° outside, so I didn't get too cold.

The episode reminded me of the "great coyote hunt" of five years ago with my neighbors James and Scott. We went out several times behind my property and set up on the utility road. The only coyote sighting was on the first try and James managed to get off a shot but missed.

It was a fun activity anyway.

 

Above, James and yours truly five years ago during our "great coyote hunt."

5 Ways Nature Can Kill Your Pet In The Desert

Above, Sierra and Lola in the motorhome. Photo by Armand Vaquer

The following pertains mainly for dogs.

During long trips, I bring my cat Sierra with me. She doesn't go outside of the motorhome and I make sure she has plenty ventilation and water if I should be out exploring. 

The follow story is from a ranger at Death Valley National Park on how to prevent your pet from being killed in the desert. It was posted in RV Travel.

The begin it with:

Here are some tips about traveling with pets, primarily dogs, in the desert according to rangers at Death Valley National Park. The advice is good, even in other places where you camp. For years, and perhaps even still today, the rangers in Death Valley kept a tally of how many pets were victims of coyotes, often when left alone outside RVs on a leash.

To read more, go here. 

Coyotes Again

Above, the coyote hunt of September 2018.

Around 3:10 this morning, the howls of one or more coyotes were heard. Besides myself, one other neighbor also heard them.

They seemed to come from the utility road behind my property and near Scott Williams's place. A little over 3 years ago (September 2018, to be exact), we sat (with a third neighbor) at the utility road behind my property with rifles for a few days.as we had problems with coyotes coming into the community. 

We didn't get any, although one neighbor managed to get off a shot at one across the arroyo but missed. 

It looks like we'll have to do it again. Sitting out in the cold temperatures doesn't sound too thrilling, though.

Tiger Missing

Above, Tiger. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tiger, the last of D.K.'s kittens from summer, has disappeared.

I fear the worst as coyotes have been in the area of the arroyo behind my property. They've been seen and heard over the past several days and the last time I saw Tiger was last Friday or Saturday.

She usually hung around with a large gray cat and he has been here eating. He has a lost look as if he's missing her.

She was one feral cat I would have liked to have kept, but catching her would have been very difficult at best. She slept in the Cat's Condo that I have on the deck. It has been untouched for days. I am hoping she turns up, but as each day goes by, that hope dwindles. 

Her mother, D.K., has been here today. 

At the Flying J this morning, I was talking to my neighbor James and we discussed the coyotes. It looks like we may have to do another coyote hunt.