Chuck Gould wrote:
On May 29, 6:12?am, HK wrote:

There actually have been reports of small bears in our neck of the
woods, so to speak, but I have no idea what it was, either. There aren't
any feral dogs around here.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

In the eastside suburbs of Seattle there are frequent reports of bears
wandering through suburban neighborhoods. About a week or so ago, one
of the elementary schools over there was "locked down" for an
afternoon after a bear was seen on or near the playground where the
kids take recess.

Fewer people hunt these wild animals these days and we have inserted
cul-de-sacs and McMansions into many areas that were formerly remote
enough to provide habitat for bears, cougars (also seen with some
regularity in the suburbs), coyotes, etc. The wild animals aren't
suddenly coming to town, town has instead gone out to them. With
regular exposure to humans many of the species will begin to lose
their natural fear of people and begin foraging through garbage cans,
etc.

If you still have that housecat, Harry, keep him locked up. The big
cats find little cats a very tasty snack. Locally, the cougars often
haul the little cats up into the trees to eat them.



Our pets never ever go outside, unless they are being taken to the vet.

We adopted this fellow last fall. He was just a small kitten then, the
son of a stray we had tried to adopt earlier. Anyway, after I caught him
and took him to the vet for a checkover, he decided indoor life was more
to his liking. Now, if I even open the screen door to step outside, he
runs like an antelope away from the opening. There's no way he wants the
wandering life again.

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