We're Being WATCHED...

Not that we aren't used to nosey people....but these had especially long noses.

Last night about 5:00 pm, we started hearing our "footloose" LGD, Shadow, barking loudly. Since he seems to have free roaming capabilities, he surveys the entire area of our farmstead.

He was SUPPOSED to stay in the fences, but boredom, a pregnant - then nursing - wife, and snowdrifts higher then said fences, have lead him to spend evenings and nights roaming the premises.

Sometimes this can be annoying - like when he drags old deer skins from the burn pile, and into the front yard. He seems to stay put on the property for the most part, although I HAVE caught him on the road in front of the house. When he saw ME, he headed for the safety of the barn....

Sometimes, him being on "the loose" can be a VERY good thing. Last night was one of those times. We've heard his barking before, but this time it was a little different. He seemed more "urgent" or "meaningful". Even our two Dachshunds picked up on it.

We figured it might be a good idea to see what all the commotion was about. We looked out the patio door of the house and soon saw what all the fuss was about.

Two visitors were standing on the top of the hill above the house and spying in on us.

They even stayed long enough to be photographed.



These photos were taken through the glass door, in fading light, but still turned out pretty good.




Shadow stood about halfway between the spies and us, looking over his shoulder and barking. He knew what a coyote was, and didn't want to take on two by himself.

He did grow some bravery when I went outside with a rifle, though. As soon as he saw he had "back-up" he ran up the hill to chase the intruders away.

Which effectively ruined any chance I had of making sure that particular coyote didn't make a return trip.

It will still be a few weeks before the pups are old enough so Yani will get back to her night duties - We're giving her "maternity leave", weather she wants it our not. I don't want to take the chance of something happening to her while the pups are still helpless, so they spend the nights closed inside a big room of the barn.

Shadow spends the night going in and out of the fences. I've watched him in the moonlight, and I've seen him in with the goats and out in the driveway at different times during the night. I never have been able to catch WHERE he gets over the fence, but I know he DOES.

Sometimes he's a real goofball, but others he's a pretty smart guy.

Speaking of goofballs:



Ya build 'em feeders, and all they do is lay in them. Actually, when it is cool out, but sunny, these tires heat up pretty good and make the perfect lounge chair - if you can squeeze yourself into it....