A Multi-Bear Day

When traveling with our RV thru Canada and AK, we often referred to days as “a 3 bear day”  or whatever.  Well here at home yesterday, June 27 we not only had a multi-bear day, we had a multi animal day.

I was outside early, washing all the dirt off my car after that major dirt road drive a few days ago.  It was about 8:30 so I dashed into the house to get a bagel and peanut butter and returned outside, entered the shed (peanut butter/bagel in hand and munching) to get towels to dry my car when I heard something bump the shed.  Must be a pine cone dropping, but it repeated itself several times along with other movements.  After bravely exiting the shed and hiding between my car and the house, I saw this…  

As a frame of reference I was in the shed with the door open

and this is what I saw when I came around the corner...

probably caused by that mother and cub you saw a few blogs back, near the end of May.  Yes, I finished drying the car with one door always open so I could quickly get inside if need be!!!

Well someone has to do it!!!

The normal amount of squirrels were out, birds singing and turkey vultures/buzzards gliding over head as later in the day I got brave and did some yard work.  Don brought me a wine and we sat on the “East Deck” to enjoy the view.   Don looked to the right and saw

a “Carnivorous Cat” sneaking across the yard with a squirrel dinner hanging from  it’s mouth.  

He always stayed in the shadows until forced into the sunlight and

then quickly headed for the underbrush.

This is what they look like up close and personal...
Someone sent me this  photo of a bobcat taken by Curt Fonger
after a mountain lion chased it up a Saguaro Cactus in AZ last  year.

Shortly thereafter looking off in the same direction, dead center between the deck railing posts, 

I saw this face emerge from the brush line 

 The bear walked slowly and quietly

just inside the brush line and then climbed up into this very large manzanita bush which
began shaking all over as he moved around.

When the bear climbed out of the bush and started to cross the open field I heard the thunderous noise of a bear crashing thru the brush.  

 I arrived too late with my zoom lens camera...

And if that's not enough, a few days ago I saw this cute little animal.

I knew it wasn’t a fluffy kitty or puppy, but a young red fox, because of its cautious mannerisms. 

   And, to answer the question if turkey buzzards would eat a dead baby skunk, the answer is YES.   When Don returned from town, 3 buzzards were busy as they devoured the skunk, right there on our driveway.    Later I went down to get the mess off the driveway (so I wouldn’t have to drive thru it again), and there was nothing left but a few fur piles.  As I “scooped” them off the road with a long stick, I heard something “rattle”…(no not a rattlesnake-that’s a different story), and, as I looked closely I discovered a small skull about the size of the tip of your index finger, with teeth still in tact, picked clean!!!   Obviously no photos of this mess…

Well, that's a "wrap" as they say in show business.  I’ll be leaving Don home alone 

tomorrow as I head for LA with daughter Kristine, her hubby Richard and son Everett to watch 

the “Trinitii Girls” live!!!  I bet you can figure out the content of the next blog…