{"id":209,"date":"2025-08-27T12:22:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talesofmanythings.com\/blog\/?p=209"},"modified":"2025-08-24T19:29:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T19:29:59","slug":"the-neighborhood-menu-tales-from-the-wetlands-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talesofmanythings.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/27\/the-neighborhood-menu-tales-from-the-wetlands-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"The Neighborhood Menu: Tales from the Wetlands Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Content Warning: <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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If you live on the edge of a wilderness wetlands reserve<\/a> like I do, you\u2019re probably familiar with the annual ritual of posting \u201cMissing Pet\u201d signs in the neighborhood. \u00a0Every summer, the same thing happens. Signs start popping up on street lights and mailboxes:<\/p>\n

\u201cMissing Cat! Reward!\u201d
\n\u201cLost Dog! Please Call!\u201d
\n\u201cHave You Seen Fluffy?\u201d<\/p>\n

The rewards are always enticing, but let\u2019s be real, those signs are just a formality. There\u2019s an uncomfortable truth that no one wants to say out loud: no one ever collects the rewards.<\/p>\n

We all know the truth. Little Fifi didn\u2019t \u201cwander\u201d off and accidentally end up living with another family down the street. She didn\u2019t get lost in the next cul-de-sac over and made camp under someone\u2019s deck. No. Fifi made the unfortunate mistake of starring in her own episode of Predators of the Wetlands<\/em> and ended up as the main course at the local wildlife caf\u00e9, an appetizer for the ecosystem. She\u2019s a cautionary tale written in talon marks.<\/p>\n

My neighborhood borders a wetlands reserve and is a bustling hub for all sorts of magnificent wildlife. We have the usual suspects \u2014 rabbits, deer, skunk, the occasional Canada Goose and a few raccoons with highly suspicious r\u00e9sum\u00e9s. But we also have the hardened carnivores and they are not shy. These guys don\u2019t knock on your door looking for a cup of sugar. They\u2019re here for the meat selection.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re not careful, your furry friend might become an unwitting participant in the local food chain.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s just say they have no moral objections to stealing lunch. Yours, mine or the neighbor\u2019s. They\u2019re the ultimate opportunistic diners, feasting on whatever crosses their path. The eagles are strategic hunters. If you\u2019re not paying attention to what\u2019s happening above you, whether you\u2019re on the ground or in a tree, well, you might just be the special of the day<\/em>. The wetlands is an all-you-can-eat buffet and your pets are sometimes the main course.<\/p>\n

Now, some folks like to comfort themselves by thinking their cat or small dog is \u201ctoo big\u201d to be carried away by a hawk. Maybe so. But let\u2019s be clear: carry-away size<\/em> is not the only criterion for ending up on the menu. Even a predator that can\u2019t fly off or run off with your pet can still take a sit-down meal right there on the spot.<\/p>\n

Living in this beautiful, wild place requires a certain level of vigilance. While the natural world is a wonder to behold, it\u2019s important to remember that it doesn\u2019t operate on suburban rules. So, how do you keep pets \u2014 and let\u2019s be honest, small children \u2014 safe in this neighborhood? It\u2019s simple: be smart, be vigilant and remember that you\u2019re living in their backyard. They were here first.<\/p>\n

To ensure your smallest family members don\u2019t become part of the food chain, a few simple precautions are in order:<\/p>\n