Grapes are a popular fruit to grow around these parts and I certainly have my share of them growing around the yard, including some that are growing up the lattice and over the top of my deck cover at the rear of the house. This area is home to my two dogs, Max and Niki who love hanging out in the gigantic dog house I just built for them a couple of weeks ago. For the last few evenings after sunset, these two canine mutts have been barking up a storm. Turns out they're not too fond of the raccoons who have been climbing up the lattice around the edge of the porch to get at the ripening grapes. If I step out onto the porch the raccoons will leap from the deck roof and hit the ground with a loud "whump!" and take off into the bushes. They would rather jump than work their way back down the lattice, understandably so. This is actually pretty entertaining because it's a long way to the ground from up top and you never know how they're going to land, neither do they. The dogs cannot chase them because they are trained not to leave the deck area unless given permission.
The night before last during one of these episodes, I had the bright idea to take Max out and follow the trail of one of the raccoons who jumped. Perhaps I could teach the raccoon a lesson by giving him a face-to-face encounter with a 100lb growling dog. This would be fun for Max too. I had to do this on the sly as my wife is very protective of our dogs and I knew she wouldn't approve. I opened the gate leading from the deck and together Max and I noiselessly went up the hill into the fruit orchard where I suspected they might be hiding. Casting my flashlight around, I didn't see much until I shone it upwards into the trees. Lo and behold, there was a good-sized raccoon hanging there in the apple tree, hoping we wouldn't see him. Well, Max didn't see him yet, but I certainly did.
This was the opportunity I was hoping for! I gave the branch that Mr. Raccoon was clinging to a good shake and
.whumph! He hit the ground right smack dab in front of Max who was taken completely by surprise. They were face-to-face, not two feet from each other, just as I'd imagined it. What a glorious night!
Max gave a big growl and Rocky Raccoon sped off into the nearest dense thicket. Max took off like a bullet and followed him in. My adrenaline was spiking! From the sound, I could tell the raccoon had turned to face Max and a mighty battle began. Imagine the fury of a cat fight but the sounds here were more guttural and ferocious and much louder! Yup, it suddenly occurred to me that maybe this might not have been one of my brighter ideas.
From where I was at, I couldn't see what was going on inside the bushes and suddenly the growling turned to squealing and sounds of panic... and pain
and then...nothing. No sound, no animals, just me standing there in the dark darting my flashlight about. I called to Max, there was no response. I fought my way into the thick of the bushes...nothing. I was starting to get pretty worried...well
panicked is more like it. I looked all over the orchard but came up empty.
I can hear the back door on the deck creak open and out steps the wife, Sally. "You out here?" she calls. I answer from the darkness, "I'm up here!"
"Did you hear something?" she asks.
"There might have been a cat fight!" I said.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
I had to think fast
"Ummm
I was taking Max out for a walk, just to see if maybe he could pee here and there to help keep raccoons and deer away. " I had no idea if Max was alive and injured or if the raccoon carried him off for dinner or what. I didn't want her to know yet what had happened, not wishing to spend the entire night out in my newly-built gigantic dog house.
"Well, why is he down here then, standing by the gate wanting me to let him in?" she said.
I hadn't thought to look there. I rushed down the hill, fearing the worst, that his ears were bitten off, that he was limping, that his tail was gone, half a nose, something. What was I going to tell the wife? But I get there and didn't see any blood spilling out onto the deck. All the requisite dog parts seemed to be there. He wasn't shaking or trembling.
I felt waves of relief and opened the gate to let him in. "Guess he got tired of walking", I said. Heart starting to slow back down.
Max went over to his doghouse, did the usual circling thing, and laid down as if nothing had happened.
Another night out in the sticks.
Last night the dogs were barking. I didn't go out to see why.