I am Stella, Queen of the Olde English Bulldogges. Aaagghh!
Me: Calm down.
Stella: No! I absolutely refuse to calm down. I heard you. I heard the humans talking about wild coyotes in our neighborhood! I heard about what those coyotes have been doing!
Me: It has nothing to do with you all. Or with our chickens. You are all shielded by a tall, strong fence.
Stella: Who said that those coyotes can’t climb? Who said that those coyotes can’t eat a fence?
Me: Those coyotes can’t eat this fence. Not since Tall Man reinforced it. And how did you know what a coyote is?
Stella: I know things. I hear things. And what is a coyote?
Me: A coyote is a wild variety of canine. In other words, a wild dog that is native to these lands.
Stella: Have you ever seen one around here?
Me: Yes, years ago I saw one down the road, walking in a ditch. Sure surprised me.
Stella: Are they supposed to be here?
Me: They disappeared from around here decades ago. I guess a lot of construction has driven them into our areas again. But…you’ve heard them crying before, remember?
Stella: No. When?
Me: When you and I went camping out west of here.
Stella: That time in the grass country?
Me: I guess you could call it that.
Stella: I don’t remember them.
Me: They were crying in the hills. But they didn’t come close to where we were camped. Maybe the human scent kept them away.
Stella: And now they are here?
Me: Not the same pack, I’m sure. Others. They’re hunting.
Stella: How can we stay safe then?
Me: You stay inside and when we are outside, you stay around the house.
Stella: Are you sure?
Me: Yes. I am sure.
Stella: Okay. I guess I will have to take your word for it. And there is not much comfort in that.
Copyright 2019 H.J. Hill All Rights Reserved.
Bulldoggy 