.."quick Rocky, hand me dat wrench I almost got dis car started"
Doogle
Posted on 08/08/2006 9:02:34 AM PDT by cstorm
I'm a native Floridian that never thought she would fear wildlife. I learned to water ski in Lake Kissimmee with alligators; stepped on Water Mocassins, you name it I was raised in the country. But yesterday morning, changed my life. For those of you that have never had an experience with wild animals; here is a true story. I was up at 5:15 a.m. My husband and I have 2 yorkies, well known for being ratters. The female isn't responsive to being a ratter, but the 13 year old male can snap a rabbits neck in a second and there be no sign of capture. He will just sit next to it and say, did I do good?
The outside lights were not working and as I always do, I put their runs on and opened the door. Buster saw the raccoon before I did and went straight for it. Their teeth are extremely sharp, like a cat. The raccoon snapped his leash, picked him up and threw him into the corner of our front door. I was trying hard to get my female in and all I could hear was my Buster screaming. I had gotten Billie in, but when I went out the raccoon was on top of Buster; I had no choice; I kicked the coon into the yard and grabbed Buster.
We were very fortunate. I was not bitten, the coon is not rabid, Buster was in severe shock and is going to lose most of his teeth this Thursday because he was bitten many time in his mouth. But we're both ok.
My point is this; don't misjudge nature. It's so easy to to get caught up in the beauty of it and let your nerve down. We live backed up to one of Florida's most natural wildlife sanctuaries. When there is a misplaced animal, such as recently a bobcat, the wildlife preserve leaves them here. We also travel to other countries, where for example in Costa Rica, you can hold the raccoons. They sleep in your arms and eat from your hands; but wildlife is not like that everywhere.
I am very fortunate that Buster did not have to be quarantined, otherwise I would have put him down at his ripe old age. My animals are so very important to me. I love them with all of my heart, but my message to all of you is be cautious; you never know when something like this might happen to you.
Your point about misjudging nature is a good one. I believe it actually ought to be applied to life in general. It pays to be alert, but sometimes we tend to relax a little.
We've got foxes in the neighborhood, some of the ladies around here are scared of 'em, but I like having them around. They've been trying to trap them, but the things seem to be too smart for that. In any case, I have no doubt that my chihuahua mix, who thinks he can kill them, would be in great danger if he ever catches one.
Glad Buster will be pretty much ok. There's a reason wildlife is called wildlife.
Be careful of those water mocassins. Mr. M stepped on one a couple weeks ago in our yard and was bitten.
I worry with our pets too. Our dog is hyper about anything coming anywhere near her yard. A few nights ago she woke us all up tearing up an armadillo. But we had to laugh at her yesterday when she was laying on the porch as a squirrel was telling her off and stomping around on it's hind feet at her. She didn't do a thing until she noticed us watching her out the window and then swoosh!
rEMINDS ME OF A SONG:
"...I went to the doctor and the doctor said...NO MORE COONS JUMPING ON YOUR HEAD!"
.."quick Rocky, hand me dat wrench I almost got dis car started"
Doogle
So sorry to hear about Buster and your terrifying experience...we too had a couple of Yorkies who are notorious for showing no fear...the female is generally the more sensible while the male is the most protective....Yorkies have to be very guarded outdoors not only for racoons but for owls.....they look like rabbits to them.....
Scary. I have raccoons here and always try to keep a safe distance, but they're not very afraid of people. I know several people who've had coons enter their dog-doors and help themselves to dinner.
"My point is this; don't misjudge nature. "
Tell that to your dog. He needed to learn the difference between a rabbit and a racoon.
A racoon once ate my baby
My sister in law had a chicken coop (more as a hobby) in rural West Palm, FL. At night the chickens would march up the ramp and they'd be locked in the steel mesh cube that was their coop.
One night she heard a ruckus, but ignored it. The next day all the chickens were locked in their cage, dead. The odd thing was that all of their legs were off.
A racoon had yanked their legs off through the cage and had a dinner of chicken drummies down below. He left the bones in a little pile. I couldn't help but snicker a little.
Glad your dog will survive.
Welcome to FR!
Rabies - the minor genetic variant that is usually found in raccoons - IS present in the Florida raccoon population. BE CERTAIN that your animals are vaccinated, and consider getting vaccinated yourself if you handle animals much.
It would rip a yorkie to pieces easily. I doubt it would've killed your dog, but the damage could've been much worse.. lucky you were there to stop it.
I had a similar experience last month. (I'm beginning to think the wildlife have started a war against us.) I live in the middle of a city, several miles from any vacant land. One morning, in my fenced backyard -- just a few feet from my back door -- a fox ran out from underneath my deck and attacked my little Yorkie mix, Button. The fox was growling like a bobcat and had Button's face in his jaws. I ran out and started beating the fox with a broom -- the only weapon I had handy. I finally scared it off. Button ended up losing an eye from the attack.
I called our city's Animal Control, they came out, set a trap, and caught the fox. HOWEVER, they took the fox to the city's Wildlife Learning Center (which is about 7 miles from our house) and released it! A wildlife expert I spoke with, who is unaffiliated with Animal Control, said the fox will just come back to our area -- that the foxes and other wildlife are finding it easier to live in populated areas now than in the wild.
I am so disgusted with Animal Control. We have, since that time, seen several foxes in the neighborhood, and I never let the dogs outside alone. If it had been a dog that had attacked my dog, they would've had it killed for sure. Why are they protecting the fox? I attribute it to the liberal attitude that wildlife must be protected at all costs -- and that people (and their pets) come last.
Yesterday I saw a piece on the news about an otter that attacked and almost killed a lady's labrador. If you have pets, don't think that just because you live in a populated area that you're safe.
Hi, storm, and welcome! We live smack in the middle of town, near the airport, and yet we have possums and skunks all the time.
Just after signing the papers, we came home to find a 4-ft. king snake or rat snake as big as a man's arm. I called an agency about it and she tore me a new one about not hurting the beneficial creature. I told her it was free to a good home, and to come and get it.
Lol
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