ACROSS THE MILES

STRANGER IN MY BACK YARD...

Many new developments have erupted around the areas where I live. Beautiful homes now stand where once animals roamed. These animals have been forced from their natural Habitat and now seek refuge in the thick brush that spread across the hillside behind my home.

For a whole month I had watched this cat walk in and out of my backyard, marking her territory and finally making it her home, and then feel comfortable enough to give birth to two beautiful kittens. I have been in close proximity to this cat. Not being afraid because to me it was just a house cat. The only strange thing was there were not many rabbits playing in the hillside and also very few birds chirping in the morning.

I had seen many a neighbors cat walk around in my backyard, I thought this was one of them who had decided my backyard was more comfortable and the grass is always greener on the other side it is said. One saturday morning the cat arrived as usual but she was not alone, running behind her were two beautiful kittens. I called out to "J" to come and see the cat , hoping he would say we can keep one of them. One look at his face and I knew something was wrong. He asked me to come inside, shut the door and said "How can you mistake a Bobcat for a house cat. Dont you see how different they look?" I had never seen a Bobcat before so it made no difference. In the days that followed we had a visit from the local police, The wild life society & the neighbors. The once quiet house was buzzing with excitement and fear. All the children and small pets were kept indoors people were all over the house with cameras and Binoculars. only the local news media was absent. I think "J" did not want everyone to know how stupid I was , and also that I would entertain a stranger for a whole month in my back yard without his knowledge.

Traps were set all over the yard. The cat sensing danger decided it was time to leave. The traps were empty , one morning I saw the cat , kittens entow walking across the neighboring hillside. A year has passed and I still look out hoping to get a glimpse of the Bobcat, but she is nowhere to be seen. I think she has found a place to call her own faraway from man. I was glad that I was able to enjoy the company of a wild cat without being afraid.