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It’s hard to watch, but alas… hawks get hungry too.
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And since mourning doves are plentiful in our backyard, not to mention slow….
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This is happening quite often.
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It’s the circle of life.
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Everyone has to eat.
Tag Archives: hunting
So close….
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I took Lord Dudley Mountcatten out in the snow for round two last week and after a few false starts…
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He accepted the white stuff was cold, wet and crunchy but if one is careful, it can be navigated.
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Careful tiptoeing continued… until he spotted my nemesis.
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While I normally don’t encourage carnage or blood sport, all bets are off when it comes to that house/barn/garage gnawing red bitch.
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I was actively encouraging the stalk and made sure to stand motionless and quiet.
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But alas, she out maneuvered us and hid in the woodshed. No doubt sharpening her teeth in between chuckles.
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Lord Dudley was disheartened, not to mention cold… so round two of ‘introduction to snow’ came to a close.
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Walkies? More like Sitties….
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Walkies with Lord Dudley Mountcatten are continuing since the weather has been warm and cooperative. (It’s Maine. Anything over 10 degrees is considered warm.)
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Dudley enjoys his time outside.
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Though I have to admit there’s not a great deal of walking going on.
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These pics were taken over the course of an hour.
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And involved circling this flower bed two dozen times in search of mice.
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Backyard visitor.
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Our resident juvenile red tail hawk dropped by the other day.
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He uses our backyard bird feeders as a training ground for hunting, but that afternoon he was perfectly happy hanging out on the back deck railing.
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Until he spied Lord Dudley Mountcatten stalking him from the window behind the couch.
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Then it was bye bye birdie…
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They could be twins.
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When it comes to collecting crap stuff, my husband is the epitome of the phrase ‘the thrill is in the hunt’.
He’ll tirelessly scour flea markets and antique stores for that just right piece of crap treasure….. but once he owns it? It will languish in the closet or be left in a deserted corner to gather cobwebs.
And now?
His cat is displaying the same traits.
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Yes, that’s a half dead mouse.
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And just like his father….
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After he hunts it down, Lord Dudley Mountcatten could care less what becomes of it.
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He was not amused.
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Since Lord Dudley Mountcatten has shown surprising mouse hunting skills, I bought him a catnip replica to practice his moves.
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As you can see….
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He was not the least bit impressed.
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And judging from that look, nothing good is going to come from my mistake.
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Dudley – 6. Mice – 0.
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He’s on a roll.
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While it’s disturbing to realize how many mice we must have scurrying around our outbuildings…
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It’s nice to know His Lordship is doing his part to control the population.
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But his boredom with the dead mice is instantaneous.
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And yours truly is always left to deal with the remains.
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🥴
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Another one bites the dust.
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His Lordship was on high alert after hearing something in the backyard stone wall.
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Not finding anything, he tried the front lawn stone wall.
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After narrowly missing a chipmunk there….
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He returned to the back lawn stone wall… and waited.
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Patience paid off. He snatched a mouse out of a rock crevice and ran with it to the back door, which was thankfully closed. Rodent death was fairly quick this time around …
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So Dudley got bored with his prize and headed back to the wall. Leaving another fresh carcass for yours truly.
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The great white (grey) hunter.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten has notched another kill in his proverbial belt.
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On a stroll past the woodshed this morning, he darted inside and came up with a squeaker.
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But again, after catching it?
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He looked a little perplexed about what to do with it.
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It’s hard to watch him toying with it, but before long?
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Another carcass.
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So he’s a little inexperienced….
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten saw a chipmunk disappear into the backyard rock wall the other day and was stone cold focused on catching it.
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He paced, he stalked, he cackled, he dove head first into crevices.
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And after half an hour of me standing patiently beside him with the leash?
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He caught a dried up day lily leaf.
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I’m so proud.
🥴
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River's world..... 