"Uh, who killed this dragonfly, Hobbes?"
My question was answered with averted eyes
and a half-bored, half-guilty look.
My question was answered with averted eyes
and a half-bored, half-guilty look.
Death seems to be the theme this week, as I noticed my big fish was missing yesterday morning. We emptied the hyacinths out of the water and searched high and low for an already hard-to-see black fish in a murky pond--all to no avail. Add that to my missing-in-action new fish of last week. Hmmmm.I think we got ourselves a raccoon.
Crap. That is not good news as that puts my tadpole and frogs at high risk. Also at risk is my snails and minnows, although they don't come to the shallow end too often. On a much smaller scale, even the water plants are at risk as a hungry raccoon will destroy everything in its path to find food.
I am not happy.
Not happy at the death of my fish, nor at the prospects of having the other pond pallies at risk. Not happy that Joe isn't very helpful at solutions of any kind, and definitely not happy that he wasn't willing to trap the beast. I'm also not happy that my new replacement fish is hanging out with the minnows--they are like a gang at the bottom of the pond and now he's one of them.
I'm finding it hard to be responsible for all the living beings in my life these days. The kids are grumpy and snapping. Joe is snapping because I'm snapping at the kids. I'm sick of watering the flowers in pots and in the garden. I'm sad that my fish are dead. I'm sick of figuring out everything, and I don't know what to do about this damn raccoon.
Sigh. Things would sure be easier if I didn't care--but I do. As a mom, I have a soft spot for all life--the frogs, the fish, the baby fish, the snails, and the dragonflies. And as much joy as I have in their life, I feel their loss ten times over.
Love and death--I'm not sure which is hardest.
31 comments:
I have a soft spot for all life--the frogs, the fish, the baby fish, the snails, and the dragonflies. The raccoon, not so much.
Ah Lin, the mother's heart is a soft one. I was explaining the story of the Velveteen Rabbit on the phone yesterday and I started crying.
Today I am grieving over the slow death of my Betta, Fabio given to me 4 years ago by my daughter. Fabio is fading and he has been my constant office companion.
on a another note: It could be a raccoon or in our area it is more likely a blue heron. But you can contact animal control and usually they will lend you a trap.
We love what we love.
Oh... poor dragonfly... poor fish! I don't know how to solve a raccoon problem ~ perhaps Hobbes could go on raccoon patrol during the evenings?? :)
Would your town provide raccoon traps to trap the little critters and then you could set them free in a nice wooded area ~ far far away from your house??
Good luck friend!
xo Catherine
It's a bummer when the little pallies don't make it. I get too attached to them too. Appealing bugs, frogs, turtles (I often stop to remove sun bathers from the asphalt- they are too dense to know that's where they get smashed- and I suppose there are no survivors to teach the others).
I hope you are feeling better soon and no more of your lovely pond family disappears.
You and I sound alot alike....I went walking all over the neighborhood last night, at about 9pm, looking for a little kitten that my neighbor had spotted in her yard. *sigh*
Raccoon's are a pain; do you have any place that would loan you a live trap? Problem is, if you do trap it, somehow you have to then take the raccoon somewhere. My husband's solution would be to just shoot it, but I tell him, "you can't shoot it in town! This is not the country!!!"
Sometimes I feel personally responsible for everyone's happiness: husband, kids, insects, birds, animals....It can get rather exhausting! Hang in there, Lin.... :)
Hobbes does look rather guilty, in a bored I-don't-care-that-I-killed-it kind of way!
It was back in the BM (Before Midnight) days and I was admiring a preying mantis. I'm fascinated by them and the feeling of antiquity that they exude. Then one of the feral cats rubbed by my leg, hopped on the mantis and had him down in two quick bites.
Speaking of feral cats, I believe that many of them that we used to feed became coyote snacks. (Yes, we have them here in our neighborhood.)
Love transcends death. If you have a raccoon better keep a sharp eye on Hobbes!
The raccoon is only doing what he/she has to to survive.
Think of it that way. It has to eat too. It's in a suburban world and this is how it has had to learn to hunt.
No one has a havahart?
Goat hugs?
You think you're upset? Last night I found out that my boy cat Pirate can jump 6 feet in the air - just high enough to clap his paws onto the birds feeding at my bird feeder. I immediately had my husband raise the feeder to a higher branch (which I can't reach, and am not sure how I'm going to restock). But I did so enjoy watching the frustration cross Pirates face as he tried to work out a new approach.
I never thought about the fact something could be fishing in your pond. Those things are bad news!
Taking care of that many living things would stress me out. I'm struggling over here and always enjoy seeing what's going on in your world. I'll come help with the raccoon and then can we hop on that train? I think it's hobo time.
Oh I doubt that Hobbes is responsible for the dragonfly death. I'm sure that it was the raccoon that did that as well. Hobbes has got to be completely innocent.
Vanilla--I love raccoons too, but we must learn to live together and not harm each other. I get the whole "survival" thing, but go over to the neighbors and eat their garbage, okay?? Well, maybe that is what attracts him in the first place.
Highway--Oh, pally. There is no heartbreak like that of losing a dear friend, even a fish friend. It is hard to watch them suffer or to slowly slip away. I'm sorry that Fabio isn't doing well. I will say a prayer for his little fish self. Everyone keeps saying heron, but I don't see how it could land in my yard. You see, it is REALLY small and even ducks cannot land in such a tight spot.
Catherine--That is what worries me more than the pond--that the kitties might get hurt. I believe it is illegal to trap and release wildlife here. I'll have to do some checking.
Sharky--I never named frogs and I quit naming fish so I would disconnect from them. But, that said, I still feel for them and their loss and they were our pond friends. I miss the big guy floating in the sun.
Melodie--Thanks, pally. It still makes me sad to think they were eaten. I feel guilty because I brought them here and I could not protect them.
A.Marie--I keep hearing that trapping and relocating is illegal here, so I'm not sure we can do that anyway. I'm going to try some coyote urine. I've heard mixed results on that, but I have to try. I wouldn't want to kill it, but just move it along somewhere else--I'm worried for the kitties.
Chuck--We have forest preserves near our house, so on that rare occasion, we do get a coyote or a deer passing through in a panic. I get the whole "nature" thing, but I feel guilty because I put the pond in and brought all these little creatures to live in it and now I can't protect them.
Grace--Precisely my point! I'm more worried about the kitties than even the pond creatures. But one can only take so much death, you know?
Pricilla--The thing with raccoons is that they don't always eat the fish. They catch them and play with them until they die, and then they leave them on the grass. It is really sad to see. I would feel better if I knew that they were a meal. I think trapping is illegal here. I'm looking into coyote urine now.
LJ--Can't we all just get along???! Criminy, that would freak me out! I hope that wacky cat is stumped on that one.
Violet--We've had the pond for about 5 years and never had this much trouble! I saw the raccoon earlier this year and I knew we were in for it. Raccoons and ponds are NOT good. :( I'm really worried.
Petula--The other day, I saw a woman walking down the street with a red plaid knapsack and a broom. I thought of you immediately! I think it is time too. Where should we meet? Kentucky? Tennessee? P.S. Bring some pork and beans. I don't really like it, but I think that's what hobos eat.
Ann--I'd blame the raccoon, but homeboy came around the corner with the dragonfly in his mouth. I yelled at him, but he didn't seem to mind. I swear he thought he'd get away with it!
Lin... you are sooo sweet..like Mother Nature herself.... hope you get the darn raccoon....
It's time for a vacation - even a long weekend or a day in the park or at the shore.
To keep raccoons out of the pond, try sinking a wooden grid just under the water so they can't reach in easily.
Sorry to hear you have a raccoon feasting on your pond. Hope he finds another place to eat though and stays away.
You have such a big heart - you are a wonderful role model for your kids and for all of us too!
I think Hobbes is a little chagrined because he expected you to be impressed by his kill. As far as the raccoon - did you say you were thinking of using coyote urine to keep it away? They sell that stuff? And it won't attract other coyotes?
Oh Lin, sorry everything is stressing you out. I'm not a fan of raccoons either, they're mean. Do you want me to come up there and wait around with a big net?
I LOVE the picture. I'm having some of the same thoughts as you, except no one is dying here. Knock on wood. We can always run away together? Go somewhere tropical and beachy? And yeah, the comment on my blog? I hate that Kidz Bop Shit. The devil must have invented it. My kids listen to my music, cuss words and all.
Natalee--I hope so too! Criminy. I'm losing sleep worrying about the frogs now. Ugh.
Marilynne--How big would that be?? I tried netting last night, but I'm not sure that is going to be very effective. Ugh.
Beaded Tail--Well, I'm not so sure about the role model--I cuss like the dickens! But if I get points for trying, I'm rackin' 'em up!! Let's just hope the intruder moves on now that the big fish are gone. :( (Sniff)
Sparkle--Hobbes was very proud of that bug. He became disinterested when I came out to yell at him. I paid $20 for coyote urine and then I hear it doesn't work! UGH!
Casey--I wish I could stay up all night like the old days--I would get one of those air soft guns and scare the pants off that thing! My Uncle Jerry does that with armadillo in his neck of the woods--but he kills them! Yikes! (no, I don't think he eats them)
Mee2--Petula and I are gonna be hobos and ride the rails, do you want to join us?? We're gonna have cool hobo names and eat beans from a can and sleep out under the stars and stuff. Except Petula wants our "under the stars" to be a fancy hotel with room service. Either way, we're packin' now. You in?
I feel for you right now. I'm not sure what to say except that I understand, but only as much as a non-mom can. Don't be too mad at poor Hobbes about the dragonfly though. I'm sure he thought he did a fine thing at the time.
How do you know its the raccoon that caused that? Any evidence around the crime scene?
I hope that you figure out something with that raccoon soon. No more death :(
Ratty--Nature is beastly, Ratty. You know that. I just feel bad that my pond design isn't good for protecting my fish and frogs. :( I guess this is a big problem for many pond owners.
V7--It's either a raccoon or a heron. I found my one fish on the lawn, which is the sign of a raccoon. But unless I stand guard all night, I don't know for sure. We are going to do a few things to try to dissuade our predator. First is that we don't have any big fish anymore. :( (sniff)
Stephanie--I want to trap whatever it is, but my friend, Wendy, just told me it is baby raccoon season. I would hate to harm one being for the safety of another. It is a fine line I'm walking here. I'm not sure what to do.
Seems like everything I wanted to say has been said by someone else.
I've either gotta get to your blog sooner or think of more inspirational things to say...
Take care :)
Roschelle--I don't read everyone's comments before I post mine at other blogs, so you can duplicate here--I treat each comment as an individual. Criminy, who's got time to read each post AND their comments???! Not me. Repeat away, my friend. :)
::clears throat:: I would like to sing a song for you:
♫ ♫ It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life ♫
Daisy--WOW! You sing GREAT!! Who knew??! I'm all about the circle of life, but when somebody starts killing everyone, I've got to draw the line. I once relocated a big bullfrog because it was taking its toll on the bird population! Hey, can you sing Hakuta Matata?? I LOVE that one!
The Chicago cop killed this afternoon is our neighbors' son/brother.
Helene--Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. That is just awful. :(
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