Gail Crutcher:  

The 7.5 acres of the property we dwell on are rural enough to still be frequented by many large game animals and we see a fair number of them all--except elk, only two so far. Anyway, we only "occupy" one acre and the other 6+ are wooded and farthest from the rustic road. We have a large fire pit in the "side" yard and frequently have a small number of friends sitting around the fire of a summer evening, sipping our favorite brews and talking. Upon one such evening, the 5 of us there, were visited by a Moose. It trotted up the drive, straight toward us and the fire---it was near sundown, but not EVEN dusky, so it had no problem seeing or hearing us, but on it came. About 30 feet from us, it finally veered off into the tree line and by passed us all within 10 feet!!! of where we were all sitting!! It was great!! That Moose still comes around each winter and hangs out back and munches on the yew trees---with her babies!!! Now that's a REAL treat watching those tykes grow up!! That's all for now from the great Pacific Northwest--later, folks Another story----is about my meeting with a cougar. I was up on our 50 acres of forested property--at the 4,500 foot level---picking huckleberries. My husband and I were spending the summer up at our cabin, and I was picking down the mountain meaning to meet with him as he drove i...Expand for more