Lions and tigers and bears

OK. No tigers, but definitely the other two have been sighted this year in and around the county. And you can add coyotes to that list roaming our own neighborhood late, very late at night.

Last week in fact, a cougar was spotted and trapped in Sudden Valley near Lake Whatcom, just 4 miles from our interurban walk near Whatcom Falls Park. Apparently this 75 pound female had just dragged a deer carcass near a backyard and was preening in broad daylight, when the home owner called Fish and Wildlife. A game warden then trapped and tranquilized this 1 1/2 year-old and relocated it out of the area.

In recent weeks coyote packs have also been reported by our neighborhood watch. They tend to hunt in packs and small dogs and cats are easy prey - if they're out late at night. Apparently these predators lay low during the day, BUT...if Casey seems reluctant to head any deeper into the woods on a trail, I usually follow his lead home.