As fall approaches, the days are getting shorter and nights are getting cooler and everything from ladybugs to bobcats are beginning to look at our cozy, warm houses with envy.
We know that wild animals are watching us and waiting until the time is right. Even back in April, there was a sighting of a black bear in the town of Sherill, Iowa. But, you say, there are no bears in Iowa. Yes, there are! And the Iowa Department of Natural Resources told KCRG that, with the growing bear population, it is “very important for Iowans to learn how to live with bears.” Get used having torn screen doors, furniture shoved out of place, refrigerators left open and cereal boxes spilling onto the floor. (However, if you’ve had teenagers, then having bears won’t be much of an adjustment.)
In April, a rogue bobcat terrorized residents of Warren County for weeks. I’m not sure how you can tell a rogue bobcat from a well-behaved one, except that nice bobcats don’t scratch on your door, trying to get in and chase your pets. The rampage finally ended in the small town of Martensdale when the bobcat killed a 16-year-old ShihTzu named Bippy. The little dog’s owner shot the beast which ran off and presumably died or reformed—anyway, was never heard from again. Apparently, it’s okay to shoot guns within Martensdale city limits if you are fighting off wild animals—which is good to know in case of a sudden influx of bears.
Bobcats are seen more and more in Iowa. They can weigh up to 40 pounds but experts say they are generally shy and nocturnal and avoid contact with humans and pets. (Yeah? Tell that to Bippy!)
On July 13, Jason Button of Des Moines shot a video of a bobcat and her three kittens strolling through the parking lot of AGR Roofing and Construction where he works as a sales manager. Button’s video aired over station KCCI and he can be heard remarking, “They’re so cute!”
Cute or not, the DNR thinks people should steer clear of bobcats of all ages. They say if you meet a bobcat or even a baby bobcat, don’t pet it. Back away or stomp on the ground and try to look big. If a bobcat makes a den in your yard (yes, this can happen), they advise you to keep the area well lighted and play a 24-hour talk radio station or a rap station (apparently bobcats cannot tolerate political opinions or rhyming).
Aside from large, carnivorous animals, we will soon be experiencing an invasion of mice, bats and stink bugs—all of which regard our homes as the Florida vacation destination of the north. The current mild weather might tempt you to leave windows open. But if you do, don’t be surprised to find a black bat hanging from your rafter like a decaying pear. Just because we have cars and computers and supermarkets and know how to fly to the moon doesn’t mean we are safe from savage beasts. Think of poor Bippy!