Tuesday, June 26, 2012

How Many Animals Before It's a Zoo

For those of you that might be newer readers of  the Art of Being Conflicted...I will bring you up to speed.  I live in Kansas City but walk every morning with a friend that lives in Dallas.  Yes, we get up and get on our cell phones at 6 AM and walk 4.5 miles every day.... rain, snow, wind, sleet.  We're just like the mailman except we don't carry mail and we won't get pensions.  What this does for us (allegedly) is keep us semi-healthy and keeps us from having to buy bigger clothes.



Thought Number One ...I must be a distant relative to Noah

Some of you, long term readers might remember that a few months back,  a red fox seemed to want to join us and started walking with me pretty regularly.   While not entirely welcoming his companionship, he didn't seem to be bothering me so  I let him follow. (really...what was the alternative?  I asked him to stay put and he chose not to)

 If walking each morning while seemingly talking to myself  (people don't understand that I am talking on a bluetooth) doesn't satisfy their assumption, that I'm a whackadoo, I have done them a big favor by offering up corroborating evidence in the form of walking with a red fox.  I aim to please.

You would think that the fox would be enough wildlife that wants to hang out with me but seemingly...no.

Last week, a neighbor stop by the house and asked me about the deer grazing near my front yard.

"Huh??? What deer???"

He says  " I saw two deer grazing near  your  front yard on my way to the gym around 5:30 this morning. It looked like a doe and her fawn."

Really, I say, "Can't say that I noticed any deer at my house."

I am thinking this just shouldn't be happening.    Here the deal....I live in suburbia.  I don't live in a forest, a zoo,  or even a wildlife sanctuary.   Olathe, KS is part of a metro area of about 2.2  million people.  There is a large park and a creek nearby but there are other yards besides mine for the local fauna to hang out in.

But there's more...I kid you not...  2 days after the deer sighting, my next door neighbor....you know ....the one that I usually try to dodge, corners me and says, "What a pretty red fox you have in your back yard. It just has the most gorgeous tail." (like that is a good thing)

"WTF...in my yard????"  Then...she goes on to say how beautiful my fox is, like she thinks I have a pet fox. (I decided not to mention, he is my walking partner, not my pet) There is little doubt in my mind that she has already spread the news that Cheryl P. has gotten a new pet that just happens to be a fox with a beautiful tail.

Sure enough, the next morning, when I leave the house for my morning walk, I circle around to the back yard and there he is...my newest resident. Note to all of you: Don't let a fox become a walking buddy as they will take advantage.


AND STILL IT DOESN'T END...This morning I walk out and
guess what???? A mommy possum is moving her babies out from my
front shrubs.  This just can't be happening.  Hell, no...enough already.




Just minutes ago, I got off the phone with the Olathe Wildlife Control Office.  They don't seem to be bothered about my wildlife problem.   The fact that I was detecting a chuckle here and there wasn't in any way making me feel better. OWCO person tells me none of my guests will hurt me.  Although, she did say the possum might snarl at me prior to pretending to be dead.  Good times, to look forward to, I guess.


Thought Number 2 ......I am living in a Disney nightmare.











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32 comments:

oldereyes said...

If you think the bunnies can decimate your yard, imagine what deer can do? I don't have to ... my brother lives in Mentor, OH where the deer and the antelope play (well, the deer, anyway). he tells me about how they can devour his plants. We mostly get birds and bunnies in our yard but have seen coyotes and a lynx in the neighborhood. I kinda like it.

Click,
Bud

Rita McGregor said...

Must be something about you, lady! ;)
I do think it is cool that you have a fox for a walking partner, though. I really do! :)

Chubby Chatterbox said...

Maybe these animals smell rain coming and they think you're Noah.

Cheryl P. said...

There isn't a prayer that they sense rain. I wish...We are dying here (ok, a bit of an exaggeration) for want of rain. Although, you might be right about the Noah part as these animals seem to like me, even minus the flood.

Cheryl P. said...

You know..the first time he started following me, it kind of freaked me out. I think I still have some pictures on my cell phone. I guess, I thought it someone found me dead or maimed they would know it was a fox. But he always keeps at a bit of a distance and follows me for a few blocks and then goes away. I really was surprised when the neighbor said that the fox was in my back yard on a regular basis. I wonder if it is the same one???? Either way, I guess fox aren't likely to hurt anyone.

Cheryl P. said...

Yes, deer pretty much obliterate a garden. We have tons of them around here but I haven't ever had a problem with them getting in my back yard where my gardens are. I was shocked to hear that they had come out of the park or creek area into a regular neighborhood at the distance I am from possible habitats. We also have coyotes. and they are causing a lot of problems with people that have small outdoor pets. Can we say "what's for lunch?"
The bunnies are the real sh** disturbers here. My garden is not as pretty this year as years past. Between the bunnies and the drought, it's a losing battle.

00dozo said...

Wow! I didn't know that possums could pouch so many babies! Nasty buggers those are. Still, I'd rather have a possum living in my bushes instead of a skunk under the porch.


The fox is too funny. Maybe someone looked after or fed it when it was young and is looking for it's benefactor and thinks that you are talking to it? Well, Cheryl, you'll now henceforth be known as, "Walks with Foxes". ;-)

Kimberly said...

I love it! Send 'em our way. The more the merrier! I've always dreamed of having a fox for a friend, anyway.

L.C. Griffith said...

Foxes and possum and deer...oh my! LOL! I love that these critters are stalking you. It seems they are picking up some sort of Mother Naturey vibe, and feel safe with you. Hmmm... You may be a critter whisperer and don't know it yet. Are there any Dolittle's in your family tree? No. Just possum? LOLOLOL!!!

Cheryl P. said...

Leah, that is so funny....esp. to a person living in KS. I will let you know if I find out that I have any latent talent in the creature whispering dept. I have no idea what is in my family tree...other than a few nuts.

Cheryl P. said...

Be careful what you ask for in terms of creatures. Those possums are some ugly critters. You are right about the fox though. He seems pretty friendly...at least from a distance and he is really rather pretty.

Cheryl P. said...

I agree about the possums. Kind of like a big ugly rat. EEEEEKKKKK Yes, the fox seems rather tame. I don't know the story there. He started following me a year or so ago and seemed to hang out near the woods by a creek. More recently I have noticed several fox in our subdivision. I think that probably people seeing me walk by are saying "The nut that walks with foxes".

meleahrebeccah said...

Wow, Cheryl! I think I would be a little freaked out if I had all those strange animals in my back yard too!

AngelBaby said...

Wow, your own personal fox! I have never had one of those, pretty much everything else but not any foxes, darn. It sounds so cool to walk with a fox. Now the Possums are just nasty I do not like them at all, yuk! The deer will eat anything that you have in your yard if they are hungry. I wish you lots of luck with the deer, bunny's and etc in your gardens!

Here's your click ...........

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Cheryl P. said...

Especially the possums. That mommy looks just like a big rat to me. She needs to take her little brood on a vacation far, far away.

Cheryl P. said...

The fox still joins in on parts of my walk from time to time but I haven't seen him in my yard for a few days. I agree about the possums, UCK!!! Usually the deer stay close to the park which is heavily wooded. I have no idea why they were out taking a walk.

meleahrebeccah said...

Agreed. Ewww.....

Katrina Grothe said...

I've got it, your garden is so amazing that they are all attracted to it! LOL The deer I wouldn't mind, but the fox and the possum would be a little too much. Here on the farm I'm happier when the foxes stay away (don't have to worry about the chihuahua that way)

Love your artwork btw, so classic! The blue bird poo is an nice touch LOL!

Clicks!
--Trina

Paul Barnes said...

Hi Cheryl,

Sounds like a real menagerie to me... maybe you could just click your heels together and go home.. wait, you are home... sounds like a wonderland to me! LOL

Clicks for you!
Wolf

PS Don't go near the possum, they're really ugly when they hiss.

Cheryl P. said...

If anything is wanting to eat out of my flower garden, they better hurry because I have a bumper crop of rabbits this year that are destroying it. When I spray the rabbit repellant, the little buggers look at me like they are saying "bring it on babe, we are here to stay!"

Cheryl P. said...

LOL, the possums are ugly when they arent' hissing as well.
Clicking my heels might not work, perhaps I should drop a house on them.

MOV said...

hilarious! we have a new friend in our back yard eating The Husband's garden. we were convinced it was something big (Godzilla springs to mind), but then I saw the offending creature and it was ...........a groundhog. A cute sweet groundhog. I was thinking a good name for it was "Gil", Gil the Groundhog. I told The Husband my new name for our extracurricular family member (entertaining the possibility of writing him off as a tax deduction) and I asked The Husband if he had a name he preferred. He said yes: "Dead."
Don't let The Husband near your gorgeous foxy friend!!
best,
MOV

Cheryl P. said...

Oh,I do think groundhogs are cute. I can see that The Husband (well..you get that I mean yours not mine) would be less then enamored with the little shit eating his garden. My husband wasn't too upset with the fox in the backyard but is less enthusiatic about the possum. (beady little rat eyes)
There is just something wrong with an animal hissing at you and then rolling over pretending to die. I am sure that saying "Listen...you might as well get up...we're not buying the whole dead routine...seriously...get up!" is a wasted effort.

Bodaciousboomer said...

I am so jealous of you. I'd love to have a fox or deer friend. The opossums who show up here don't last long. The pack is always ready to give them a warm welcome.

Grandpa said...

If it was about to rain, maybe they think there is an ark being built in the backyard....

Jo-Anne said...

Ok I came over from Bev's blog saw your comment there and I am always looking for new blogs to read, like I don't have enough to read already but hell here I am reading and giggling and followering yet another blog................ok moving on I think it is cool you go walking with a fox but I would get worried if you are out walking and turn around to see not just a fox but the deer and the doe and the possum and it's babies all followering you but honestly if a bear turns up then your really have a problem........lol

Cheryl P. said...

When I called the Wildlife Control that was the first thing they said...get a dog. Just one of the many things that I am conflicted about. Creepy rodent thingy for sure but it's a mom with babies...she just needs to go somewhere else. If I would have had a few dogs, I doubt that mommy possum would have ever shown up in the first place.
The fox has been hanging around long enough it doesn't bother me but the deer need to stay far, far away from my garden.

Cheryl P. said...

At this point I would welcome the rain.

Cheryl P. said...

Thank you so much Jo-Anne for coming over. I am like you that I already read a crazy amount of blogs but keep finding more that I absolutely love. I will tell you that if I see a bear...that chick from OWLC office is going to hear me screaming and she won't need a telephone.

Cheryl P. said...

By the way, Jo-Anne do you have a blog?

Nicky said...

Bahahahahaha! I love the cartoon! And is that bird pooping on your hair?! You slayed me with this one, Cheryl!

Cheryl P. said...

Thanks...glad you liked it. Just for the record, this isn't the first time I have been shit on..and I doubt it's the last.