The Neighborhood Menu: Tales from the Wetlands Edge

Content Warning: This post deals with the difficult topic of pets and wildlife and uses dark humor to discuss the food chain. It may not be suitable for all readers.

If you live on the edge of a wilderness wetlands reserve like I do, you’re probably familiar with the annual ritual of posting “Missing Pet” signs in the neighborhood.  Every summer, the same thing happens. Signs start popping up on street lights and mailboxes:

“Missing Cat! Reward!”
“Lost Dog! Please Call!”
“Have You Seen Fluffy?”

The rewards are always enticing, but let’s be real, those signs are just a formality. There’s an uncomfortable truth that no one wants to say out loud: no one ever collects the rewards.

We all know the truth. Little Fifi didn’t “wander” off and accidentally end up living with another family down the street. She didn’t get lost in the next cul-de-sac over and made camp under someone’s deck. No. Fifi made the unfortunate mistake of starring in her own episode of Predators of the Wetlands and ended up as the main course at the local wildlife café, an appetizer for the ecosystem. She’s a cautionary tale written in talon marks.

My neighborhood borders a wetlands reserve and is a bustling hub for all sorts of magnificent wildlife. We have the usual suspects — rabbits, deer, skunk, the occasional Canada Goose and a few raccoons with highly suspicious résumés. But we also have the hardened carnivores and they are not shy. These guys don’t knock on your door looking for a cup of sugar. They’re here for the meat selection.

The foxes and coyotes are our four-legged patrols, always on the lookout for an easy meal. The skies, however, are where the real danger lies. No fence will restrict approach from above. Cats and small dogs are on the menu and if you’re not careful, your furry friend might become an unwitting participant in the local food chain.

Hawks, the silent ninjas of the skies, can pick off a rabbit without breaking a sweat. Coyotes run coordinated raids like a well-trained special ops team. And raccoons? Let’s just say they have no moral objections to stealing lunch. Yours, mine or the neighbor’s. They’re the ultimate opportunistic diners, feasting on whatever crosses their path. The eagles are strategic hunters. If you’re not paying attention to what’s happening above you, whether you’re on the ground or in a tree, well, you might just be the special of the day. The wetlands is an all-you-can-eat buffet and your pets are sometimes the main course.

Now, some folks like to comfort themselves by thinking their cat or small dog is “too big” to be carried away by a hawk. Maybe so. But let’s be clear: carry-away size is not the only criterion for ending up on the menu. Even a predator that can’t fly off or run off with your pet can still take a sit-down meal right there on the spot.

Living in this beautiful, wild place requires a certain level of vigilance. While the natural world is a wonder to behold, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t operate on suburban rules. So, how do you keep pets — and let’s be honest, small children — safe in this neighborhood? It’s simple: be smart, be vigilant and remember that you’re living in their backyard. They were here first.

To ensure your smallest family members don’t become part of the food chain, a few simple precautions are in order:

• Supervise Outdoor Time: Never leave a small pet or child unattended in the yard. It only takes a second for a predator to make its move.
• Keep Pets on a Leash: Even in your own yard, a leash can be the difference between a safe walk and a frantic dash for safety.
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Get in the habit of scanning the trees and the skies. If you see a large raptor circling overhead, it’s not looking for a scenic view. It’s scouting for dinner.
• Fence It Up: A secure, high fence can deter most ground predators, like coyotes and foxes. It won’t stop the birds, but it’s a good first line of defense.
• Stay Informed: Know which animals are in your area and what their habits are. Knowledge is power and, in this case, it might just save you from putting up a “Lost Cat” sign.

And if that fails, keep your furry friends indoors or in secure, escape-proof steel-reinforced bunker, preferably with a bulletproof roof, surrounded by motion-activated sprinklers and maybe a moat. In short, living on the edge of a wetlands reserve means embracing the wild, but also being smart about it. So, let’s enjoy the wildlife from a safe distance and keep our pets and kids off the menu.

Out here, the circle of life isn’t just a song. It’s a takeout menu.