Caldera Cat Tales

Smokey waits for Patches to catch up.

A new season begins

By Smokey the Wild Cat

ISLAND PARK, ID. — Summertime! I meowed my tail off for weeks in an attempt to get my people to let me write my column again. They kept telling me to wait until Memorial Day Weekend, and now that time has arrived. It's the beginning of summer around here, although summer's celestial beginning is three weeks way.

What is the difference between summer and winter? In winter, the snow stays on the ground for weeks and weeks. In summer, it melts. Another difference is that Patches and I can now take long walks with or without the people. I have to admit though, I prefer walking with the people. I realize that most cats do not hike with humans, but Patches and I quite enjoy it. We especially love to go down to the creeks and watch the water tumble over the rocks and bounce off the beaver dams.

We are busy hunting moles, voles, mice, and ground squirrels. They're all over the place and trying to crawl up under the people's vehicles so they can find their way inside and build nests. When we're not hunting, we're fending off attacks from swallows trying to take over the bluebird nesting boxes. If I get too close to those boxes, a swallow will sweep down on me and peck my head, which is quite annoying.

Of course, many of you heard about the moose attack because the woman Facebooked it and some of you sent me e-mails. I am only protecting the property from one particular cow moose that wants to eat all the woman's flowers, especially the wild ones she loves so much. I have chased her away three times at the risk of my own life. Last time, I followed her when she walked off. She went down our road and over to Kickapoo Lane and then crossed the creek. When I reached the other side, by walking gracefully over a log, she stopped and informed me that she knew all along that I was following her.

"Come along, Smokey," she said," and I will show you why I have been acting so strangely."

I followed her a little ways and she stopped and nodded toward a pile of bones beneath a tall pine tree.

"Meow!" I said. I could see they were moose bones. "Is that your calf?"

"Yes, Smokey. He was doing well until a month ago, and then he just couldn't eat enough to stay warm. I think worms or some other critters were living inside him, preventing him from gaining weight. He got weaker and weaker and fell asleep. He never woke up."

I told her I was very sorry and that I would miss the calf because he had always been fun to talk to.

"I am sad," she replied, "but this happens many times to moose and other wild animals. It's part of life. He would have been two years old in a week or so, and I would have sent him away to live on his own. Very soon I will give birth to a new calf. Maybe this one will have better health."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, next time you come over I'll let you eat some flowers."

The moose was very grateful for that. Now if it would only stop snowing so the flowers can really grow!

This is part of the online edition of Henry's Fork Country.

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