When we moved in with my in-laws I knew I’d be surrounded by more wildlife than I’ve been used to the past six years at our home. We have birds. An occasional opossum, lizards and…cats. Squirrels were a rarity, and usually only at the park. Raccoons, never.
Moving to a house in the foothills of a National Forest, you know that you’re going to see some stuff you’re not used to. The other night I took the dog out back for a before bedtime pee and was nearly attacked by a massive raccoon. And by nearly attacked, of course I mean it walked by me. It was about 3 feet away.
A bobcat was spotted in the backyard a few weeks ago. My Father-in-law feeds a flock (?) of quail that hang out in the backyard. The frogs in the stream behind the house are deafening at night. I’ve seen coyotes on the street at 11am before and we hear them howling and yipping on a regular basis at night.
So, I should not have been surprised when I was awakened from a deep sleep the other night to the sound of a gigantic pack (we estimated about 15 – 20) of coyotes howling and yipping RIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. It had been an unseasonably warm night, so I’d left the bedroom window open. And they were LOUD. It was a little disconcerting, so I tried to just remind myself that we were safely inside and they were probably eating a rabid and menacing raccoon or rabbit or something. It certainly wasn’t someone’s beloved cat or dog. Or, you know, someone. Coyotes aren’t really known for eating people.
And then? I heard Zach’s voice, as clear as day, outside my window. My 2 1/2 year old was OUTSIDE at 11:30pm in the vicinity of a raucous group of deadly coyotes.
I LEAPT out of bed, flung open my bedroom door and literally barreled by way into the boy’s bedroom.
Where I found both of them sound asleep and safe in their beds.
It took about 30 full minutes for my heart to stop RACING and I’m pretty sure if I’d taken my blood pressure it would have been 193/107. Or something equally insane.
They were fine. They were not being eaten by coyotes. They had not snuck out of the house in the middle of the night. Which really wouldn’t happen anyway, since Zach won’t get out of his bed without yelling “mom! mom! mmmmooooommmmm!” a million times and Dylan would NEVER go outside by himself at night. You know, picture taking space men and all. And yes, he still talks about it.
I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t run OUTSIDE to save Zach instead of into his room to check to make sure he was there. Hopefully it’s because some teeny, tiny portion of my brain is still a little bit sane and knew he wasn’t really outside being consumed as a midnight snack.
I guess anything is possible, right? I think I need to break out my rabid dog beating stick again. It’s going to be a long six months surrounded by all this nature.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
We live on 40 + acres in rural Ohio. It would be crazy for me not to see and hear wildlife everyday.
.-= Mandi Bone´s last blog ..Sick =-.
Wow, that is a lot of wildlife. Good luck with all your new friends in the woods. Can’t wait to see you next month!
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..Let the MADNESS begin… =-.
Awww… I can just imagine how scary that moment had to be. Sounds like something I’d do too.
.-= Mama Kalila´s last blog ..Decisions Decisions… =-.
Oh lord, the crazy vivid pregnancy dreams have started, huh? When Catie was born (until she was 18 months), we lived in the boonies, and often had coyotes in our yard. I was always terrified of her getting outside without me. After she started walking and wanted to play outside, I always made sure she was never more than a 2-second sprint away from me. I had nightmares about that stuff ALL the time.
.-= cindy w´s last blog ..couch-to-5 wha? =-.
My kinda live in the country. Growing up, I saw a lot of deer and opossums and raccoons and cows. I’ve never seen a coyote, but when I moved to the place I currently live I saw a fox just jogging down the street. A few years ago, though, there was a hawk perched on a tree limb right outside my door. I called my mom and told her and she told me to be careful with my son (I only had 1 kid at the time) because it would attack him. Thanks, mom! Isn’t wildlife fun?
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Living the Dream =-.
That was supposed to say my PARENTS kinda live in the country.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Living the Dream =-.
We get coyotes this time of year, too. But now you’ve given me one more thing to add to my list of reasons why I will never be pregnant again: scary, child-eating coyote, half-conscious dreams.
I think it’s time to move to the beach.
.-= Allyson´s last blog ..Today =-.
They are totally going to make a movie about this.
Just hearing this story scares me. Be extra careful. I am protective of my dog. Leash in the early morning and leash at night in our backyard. During the day I watch her while she is out.
We have snakes, coyote, hawks, frogs, taranchulas and I did see a bobcat a few years ago. I don’t like nature!
.-= Debby Pucci´s last blog ..SO WHAT DID YOU DO LAST MONDAY? =-.
I am trying to be clear on this… who was peeing in the backyard?
“My 2 1/2 year old was OUTSIDE at 11:30pm in the vicinity of a raucous group of deadly coyotes.”
Lord, it’s going to take 30 minutes just for MY heart to slow down after that sentence. Going to peek in on my 2 year old in her bed…
There goes Grandmaother with another zinger!
But srsly. Coyotes sound like children screaming. I have freaked out MANY times thinking they got a kid. So I’m on your team here.
.-= heather…´s last blog ..Bad At Directions =-.
Scary! We have coyotes where we live, but never so close to our house as of yet. We’ve lived here for 8 months and I still get a chill every time they set off howling. It’s just sooo EERIE!
Yikes! When I lived in Toronto we had crazy raccoons that would jump down onto the deck RIGHT BESIDE US. Bold little fuckers.
You should probably never come visit me…just sayin…
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Yes you CAN have organized closets. =-.