Don’T Fall Prey To Mountain Cat

Reports of cougar sightings in the region have filtered in this summer. It’s wise to review behavior guidelines (yours) before striking out on a hike into cougar habitat.

First, don’t hike alone in mountain-lion country. Experts recommend carrying a walking stick or pepper spray.

If you encounter a cougar, “your chances of injury are small if you demonstrate you are in charge,” says Raymond Skiles, a National Park Service wildlife specialist.

Most important, don’t run; running tells the cougar you are prey. Wave your arms. Stand tall and clump together with other hikers to present a big silhouette. Don’t turn your back on the cat.

If the cougar attacks, above all, don’t play dead. Instead, fight back, punch, kick, yell or spray with pepper spray. Play dead and you’re lunch, says Skiles.

* Cute doesn’t mean gentle: We won’t dispute that raccoons are very cute. But while you might enjoy having them visit your yard, and even encourage them with treats, your neighbors might not be so eager to see them.

Raccoons can be highly destructive.

At one of the homes on the recent Associated Garden Clubs garden tour, raccoons fetched all of the silk pond lilies from the backyard ponds and shredded them all over the lawn.

And, Anita Endrezze, a Critter Watcher who lives on Five Mile Prairie, reports a raccoon returned each night for nearly a week to her backyard swimming pool to play with the toys — snorkle, plastic fish, swim mask.

Finally one night, overcome with enthusiasm, the raccoon chewed them to pieces and then moved on to the chair cushions.

“You can see what too much unsupervised freedom does to young ones,” says Endrezze.

* Backyard journal: Adding vinegar to the birdbaths to discourage wasps and hornets didn’t work in our yard. And the hummingbird feeders are left empty to prevent yellowjackets from hogging the sweetened water. Porcupines have chewed the bark off three more young trees. Tree frogs keep getting into the garage and dying there. Sometimes backyard life can be unaccommodating and harsh. But never dull.