Coexisting with wild animals: is a must in today’s world. With our living spaces and their habitats overlapping all over the world, encounters are happening more and more; frequently with disastrous results. Resulting in either the loss of human life or the extinction of the animal. With whom our very existence depends in our ecosystem.
Since so many of us enjoy the great outdoors; which includes the mountains & wild animal habitats, how can we coexist? Without either of us getting hurt? Well, I have a story to tell you. Along with the amazing advice, a wild animal biologist told me to keep predators at a distance.
This is a story about my encounter with a “mountain lion” while walking my dogs down my driveway. This occurred on the Sunday before Easter 2021. However, this occurred about four months after I had major back surgery; a fusion of (L4-5) and was still recovering.
Coexisting With Wild Animals
It was a beautiful sunrise on that Sunday; March 28, 2021. As I was making my bed; I watched the sunrise. With great spirits, I was looking forward to my morning walk with my dogs Cassie and Rosco. Never realizing the scary events I was about to experience. With the day so clear and a clear blue sky overhead, so, I decided to head out earlier than usual. While quickly getting dressed. I hooked Cassie on her lead, and Rosco followed. Now here, I need to tell you about my dogs. Cassie is my service dog and a 125 pound Landseer Newfoundland dog. Rosco is my ex-husband’s 120 pound Rottweiler, an older eight-year-old with sore hips.
Therefore, I always walked Cassie on a horse lead rope, which I prefer to a leash, and Rosco just tagged along at his own pace. At this point in my recovery, I was only able to walk to the end of my gravel 0.2 mile driveway. However, these walks were so important to my recovery. As well as the weight loss I had been having since starting on some amazing Biohacking Supplements.
So the three of us headed out on our morning walk. Cassie and I were in the lead, with Rosco following at his own pace. Now the halfway mark was about at our neighbor’s driveway that forked off our driveway. Rosco stopped there to wait for Cassie and me while we walked to the road and unlocked the gate. When I opened the gate, we turned to walk back home. Something told me to wrap Cassie’s lead around my arm and hand so she could not chase anything. Since she had a tendency to chase squirrels, frequently giving me rope burns on my hands.
Coexisting With Wild Animals: The Drama
As we headed back towards Rosco; we were relaxed and walking slowly. However, on our left side of the driveway were berry bushes. On our right was the paddock for another neighbor’s cows. As we passed a small opening in the Berry bushes; I remember seeing a tan color and a sense of length. Suddenly I was swept off my feet, and I was being dragged down my driveway on my back as Cassie was chasing something. The strangest part was that I did not hear a sound. Not even me screaming at Cassie to stop. As it turned out, she had dragged me about thirty feet.
Rosco was still standing where he had been waiting for us. But now he was behind me, not in front, like he was when the chase started. At this time, I had no idea what Cassie had chased. I thought it might have been a squirrel or a coyote. But I was furious with her for dragging me and possibly re-injuring my back. Although the day wore on, I knew my back was fine. Luckily, I had on several layers of clothing to keep me warm on our walk.
What I learned:
The next morning, I had an appointment with my general practitioner. When I explained the incidence of the morning before, he quickly informed me that the animal Cassie had chased was probably a mountain lion. Now I was really surprised by this; since I knew that they were on the back of our property, where there were large boulders from which many kits have been born over the years. And that is an area where I did not wander around without a rifle and a total awareness of my surroundings. (As many unfortunate individuals have been attacked from behind by Mountain lions in wilderness areas.)
When I returned home, the first thing I did was to contact the department of fish and wildlife. (Formerly known as the department of fish and game.) I began carrying a loaded pistol on my morning walks. Knowing now that the Mountain Lions were also in front of our property as well as the back. However, I did not want to shoot one. Since this was more their domain than mine, Yet, I did not want to be eaten or one of my dogs killed either.
The Little “Secret” I Learned to Stay Safe:
After about a week, I heard from the department of fish and wildlife. I heard from their animal biologist. She wanted to know what I wanted her to do with the animal. I informed her that I just wanted to be safe when outdoors and that my animals were safe. She informed me of a little trick that would keep me and my critters safe from all wildlife except “rabid animals.” Now, this came as quite a surprise to me. While I listened intently for some amazing trick. I was quite surprised to find that a metal-on-metal noise will send the biggest wild animal turning away from your position when heard. One of the easiest and most convenient noises is a set of keys. I did really say a set of keys!
Now, I figured that she knew what she was talking about. However, within a few days, I was able to prove it’s effectiveness. Since the day Cassie chased the Mountain Lion, the dogs have been very interested in our pond area. Now dry and with the Berry bushes regrowing within it’s borders, One night I took Cassie out for a potty break, carrying my keys. She was weary, and the hair on her back was standing up; as were the hairs on the back of my neck. I started scanning the ground with my flashlight. However, I saw nothing at first; but when I decided to look up and scanned a large oak tree. There were two pairs of eyes glowing among its branches.
Coexisting With Wild Animals: Will It Work?
While I can honestly tell you, I was scared to death being so close to whatever was in my tree. With seeing two of them just heightened my fright. But I kept the keys in my left hand with Cassie’s lead, so I began shaking them. And much to my surprise; the big cats leaped out of the tree and ran for the back of the property. I know I almost peed my pants when they jumped out; but was I greatly relieved that the “trick” worked so beautifully. Now since that time I have only seen one more big cat on the property; which was a few weeks later. And like before; shaking the keys worked to frighten the animal away from the house.
Now in January 2022, we sold the house as part of our divorce. However, the new owners had two small boys. I left a keyring with several keys attached, for each family member to have on them at all times; when outside for safety. Since I knew these new owners loved our home and property; I keep in touch with them every so often. The keys seem to be working beautifully keeping any wild animal at bay when they are outdoors.
Response Magic