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| Click the photos to see my handsome sleeping face! |
I was driving down the main road through our subdivision around noon today when cars suddenly came to a stop, and lots of pedestrians were gathering. A sheriff's deputy was there, and I figured there had been a mild fender bender that attracted rubberneckers. The crowd was still there when I came back about 40 minutes later, and this time I looked in the direction of the gawkers. This black bear was napping on a tree branch, not 15 feet off the ground and right along a busy 4 lane residential boulevard, in someone's side yard.
I of course had to join the gawkers with my camera. These were NOT taken with a big, fancy telephoto lens. He was that low in the tree, and that close to the paparazzi.
He stayed in the tree, napping, from noon until sometime between 6 and 6:30, as far as I can tell. He was still up there when I passed by on my way to dinner at 6, but my daughter reports he was gone when they drove by at 6:30.
Florida wildlife is very used to people. Sophie met a friendly raccoon on an early morning walk the other day - it kept its distance but was completely unafraid of the dogs, and climbed a tree to watch them from a fork that was only a couple of feet above my head - obviously, it had figured out that dogs are lacking in climbing skills, and trusted me not to bother him. We have coyotes on the golf course, and of course possums and armadillos and the occasional fox. It always amuses me because we are not in any way what you'd describe as "country" - no heavily wooded lots, the houses are close together, etc. Yet, this dude found himself a place to nap, to the delight of his human neighbors.
It also serves as a reminder to me, that I need to be alert and aware of my surroundings when walking the dogs in the dark. But it really is pretty cool.
I have noticed a big hawk hanging around my neighborhood---about a week ago, he was perched on the railing to my front steps when I pulled into the driveway in my car. He was no more than about eight feet from me, and he didn't move until I started opening the car door. He kind of creeped me out---I hope he wasn't waiting for me to bring Hannah out of the front door on her leash. (!) There are allot of horror stories floating around here about big birds trying to carry off tiny little dogs. (I hope he was just looking for a chipmunk.)
ReplyDeleteBrenda
We have our own story like that. Many years ago, while my husband was still alive but sick, my daughter was home from FSU for a few days and took Murphy out for a walk. They were walking back to the house and she saw a huge owl on the roof - she thought for a second that we'd put up one of those silly fake owls, until it turned and looked at her. She said she scooped up Murphy and said, "This is not a rabbit!" and hustled him into the house. I always watch the skies, and it's another reason I keep the dogs on 6 ft. leashes - they are within easy grabbing distance.
ReplyDeleteWise girl child indeed. Jazzie was always on a short leash, because many of the camping Rockhounds warned me that something could grab him and be away with him before I could react. Owls move in silence. You can't even hear them coming.
ReplyDeleteYes, I want the dogs close enough to me that my presence will be a deterrent. Within six feet, I feel like I'm enough of a human scarecrow. Scare owl. Whatever.
ReplyDelete