So remember last week, I mentioned hearing coyotes outside our back fence? And I wondered if a coyote could jump the block wall? Now I know the answer!
A couple mornings ago, a neighbor went to take his newish puppy out back when it was still dark around 5 am and a coyote was IN his back yard. The neighbor yelled to scare him away, and the coyote hopped up on the block wall and walked down it toward our house (he lives about four houses from us).
The neighbor’s dog was fine, and the neighbor was going door-to-door to make sure all of us knew that coyotes could get in the backyard. We super appreciate that. I had always heard coyotes could jump a block wall, I just hadn’t heard a first-hand account of it. Now I have! Otherwise, Wizard and I have already lived in this area for a really long time. so we knew about the coyotes (and bobcats and rattlers) but others may not.
And despite that, we do love it here! Now if a rattler gets in our backyard, I may feel differently <<shudder>>
But isn’t it awesome how sometimes we ask and the universe answers? Now I won’t feel quite so silly at night out in the backyard doing my Granny Baseball Ninja act in my pajamas 
(We all know when that it comes to Maggie, I’ll sacrifice life, limb and pride for her!)
Happy Wednesday!
April 19th, 2023 at 8:40 am · Link
Yeah, coyotes are athletic. As are bobcats. We always turn on the back patio light, jiggle the door, and wait about a minute before opening the door. We do have coyotes and foxes in the area but not *here*. It’s the coons, possums, and feral cats. A coon can do some serious damage even to a dog as big as Jake. Possums just play dead and wait until I scoop them up in a plastic bag and carry them out of the yard. The sack is always empty by morning. LOL
Be vigilant and check for eyeshine. Maggie is brave enough she’d probably charge the intruder to protect YOU!
Happy Hump Day!
April 19th, 2023 at 2:28 pm · Link
Yes, coyotes seem to have springs in their back legs. If you look at how they are built you can tell they have the ability to launch. Your neighbor was so nice letting everyone know about the fact that they can get into your yards.
You never seemed strange to me out there scaring the buggers away in your jammies. I would do the same. Though I agree with Silver, Maggie would be there defending you.
I baked a Bundt cake today and did something I’ve never done. I had a can of frosting and I microwaved it and poured the liquid over the cake. Man was that easy and it looks good. Sometimes it’s easier to cheat 😄.
Have a wonderful afternoon!
April 19th, 2023 at 2:45 pm · Link
Not to freak you out, but a CA friend found a rattler wrapped around her downstairs toilet. Her hubby talked her out of burning the house down–barely.
April 19th, 2023 at 3:33 pm · Link
Silver, all good suggestions! We have a light on all night on our back patio. We do that for general safety since we don’t have neighbors behind us, but it gives me a pretty good site line before I even open the door. But there are two sides of the house less well lit so I’m being more cautious
Maggie might try to protect me, but she’s been trained to go behind me. It’s worked the past times we encountered coyotes on a walk, but this may be different as it’s HER backyard and that changes things in a dog’s mind for sure.
April 19th, 2023 at 3:37 pm · Link
Viki, coyotes are pretty amazing. But to someone like me who couldn’t EVER scale a block walk without a chair, ladder and possibly drugs, it’s an amazing feat
Yeah, the more I think about Maggie in her backyard, she may indeed try to defend me. Which is the last thing I want her to do since I have a better chance of scaring off a coyote than she does.
Yay on the Bundt cake! I’ve done that with canned frosting if I had a time crunch, and it works like a charm! I bet it’ll be delicious! And it’s not cheating, it’s being energy efficient
April 19th, 2023 at 3:45 pm · Link
Marianne, WHY???? I know you’re laughing!! I’m betting the first thing you thought when your California friend told you was, I Must Tell Jen!
Now I’ll never use our bathrooms again.
I’m vividly aware that it’s snake season here, and I’ve stopped walking in places where I can’t see clearly.
Wizard and I would probably hurt each other in our race to get out of the house and call ghost busters or whoever gets rid of demon, uh I mean, rattle snakes.