:: Do NOT Herd!
Just ask Chewie...
For most of March this moose has been hanging around in the bush to the west of the house. Like, right there! This has Chewie barking at all hours of the night and day. Mostly we keep the bedroom door shut at night so she doesn't go out and bark some more. Dog doors have advantages, yes, but not in this case!
And barking at said moose does not get said moose to go anywhere it does not have the inclination to do so. Thus our new favourite saying when things aren't going according to plan, "You can't herd moose!"
Even though there is well over a metre of snow out there, the moose roams at will. Watching them step over a barbed wire fence like it wasn't there reminds you just how big the beasts are. Often depicted as clumsy, watching them gracefully trot through the deep snow is beautiful. We have had moose in the berry patches every winter. Leading to well pruned saskatoon bushes at moose mouth level and big berries wayyy up there! They keep out of our way and move off when we are out walking. Good moose to have; Chewie would bark a bit, but always came when called.
This fellow now, has been a pain for us. It decided to winter in the patch of trees just the other side of the fruit trees planted on the west side the house; it then it decided to move in closer… like inside the chain-link fence.
Chewie: a little back up here!
Here is were the moose crossed the line from being an annoyance to becoming Chewie’s arch enemy. It entered the house yard for a wander around. Chewie went out to bark, doing her duty. The moose had the nerve to do a half hearted charge towards her. All bets and politeness are now off the books. This dog with the best recall suddenly became deaf with the moose nearby. Thankfully it didn't take it into it's head to eliminate our dog and moved off when Steve yelled in support. But obsessed does not begin to describe our formally laissez-faire hound. She would not come at all when a moose in sight, sound or an odour on the wind. She chased it out towards the highway once with Steve in pursuit. Not good. We were more than relieved to have it move on and become the bane of some other dogs existence. We found out from Fish and Wildlife this young fellow has been a problem up and down our road. Hopefully it will learn to avoid humans in the future.
Driving back from Edmonton this week, Chewie saw a moose cross the road; gone was our sleepy, indolent travelling companion. "Moose! Mooose! Did you see that! Why aren't you stopping?! There was a MOOSE! For the next half hour she alternated between staring intently out the window to looking at us in an accusing manner. "What else have you been keeping from me whilst we are on the highway?"
We are appreciating a quieter country existence now. Some four legged residents would dare say boring, but as long as we go for a brisk walk everyday and throw balls on demand, all seem content.
Wishing you a spring fresh snowfall at a minimum and just a wee pinch of excitement for colour,
love,
Zuzanna
Stay Calm, Be Brave, Wave and smile at the moose, now!! With love,
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jgs / |`= the Little Brown Bird