Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
It’s a wild life with wildlife close about.
Yet another doe birthed a fawn on our lawn last week. My patrol the next day revealed, “Clear.” But, as BoD and KissMe played, with close supervision, RonTom spotted Spots. Back our weenies went behind the toddler gate between our garage and our chain-linked great outdoors.
The saga continued a couple days later when BoD knocked down the toddler gate and latched onto the fawn. When I responded to barks, BoD and the mom were in quite a confrontation, with BoD safe on our back porch.
My sister asked if the fawn got hurt. Ron answered, “Only his pride … that he got taken down by a little 13-pound dachshund. He scampered off once BoD got inside.”
Salli Wilson tidbitted on her recent close encounter with the almost all white skunk that makes appearances near Live Oak Drive and Maple Drive. It’s in her yard most mornings. “It is almost totally pure white, except for just a little black on his/her belly and a tiny bit on the front side of his/her tail. It is quite tame, as the first time I saw it, I was out in my backyard feeding the deer and it was in our yard between Cheryl’s and ours – like maybe 20 feet away. I saw it, and just laid the food containers down slowly, picked up my cat and went back into the house. The skunk never even looked up or tried to run away. It was beautiful. I got pictures from my sunroom – but no closer :).”
Salli’s water for deer stays much cleaner now that we trapped three raccoons. Salli wonders if others provide water for deer. At our house, some mornings the birdbaths are dry.
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A few years back, driving on Live Oak Drive, Ron and I turned to one another with, “What was that?!” Both of us had the impression “mountain lion.” Now, a mountain lion has been reported by several just across the way in Ruby Ranch.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife website gives guidance on “What To Do If You Encounter A Mountain Lion.”
Pick all children up off the ground immediately.
Do NOT approach the lion.
Stay calm. Talk calmly and move slowly.
Face the lion and remain in an upright position.
Do not turn your back on the lion. Back away slowly.
Do NOT run.
Do all you can to enlarge your image.
Do NOT crouch down or try to hide.
If the lion is aggressive, throw rocks, sticks or anything you can get your hands on.
If the lion attacks, fight back. Fighting back can drive off lions.
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The wild heat continues. Beth Smith sent word to her distribution, “Many calls that we normally don’t hear about come in reporting kids in parked cars even for a few minutes, waiting on parent, etc. Please think twice and report immediately if you see an unattended child in a car or pet for that matter. The heat is a quick ‘killer’”.
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The threat of wildfires has put a county wide ban on fireworks. The website says, “The ban does not extend to fireworks sponsored by governmental entities or to entities holding a permit from the Hays County fire marshal to conduct organized, commercial fireworks displays in unincorporated areas of Hays County.” Last week’s newspaper gave word that Kyle’s display is a “go”, this week closer to us, at the Plum Creek Golf Course.
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Betty Puckett tidbitted, “Jay started hauling water over a month ago for our yard watering. Help us pray for rain.”
Indeed. Help us pray for rain.
Prayers and sympathy to Jay Puckett in the loss of his mother.
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