Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Straight Lake: Legend of the Collars

I have just a few of these legends to share.  I shared the Legend of the Cap back in March.
Back in 1986 when we moved back here the first time, to raise our girls in the country and to try to make a living owning a resort while Far Guy commuted back and forth 180 miles a day to a job with a real paycheck.   I had two dogs, Shelties..Misty and Moses, both registered Shetland Sheepdogs.  We had various cats, as our oldest daughter had many boyfriends and each new beau would give her a kitten.   The Shelties had a litter of puppies, about that time the Eagles started to take up residence in the trees in our yard.  I wouldn't let anyone out of the house if the Eagles were in the tree.  I would step out side and holler, and run toward the trees like a wild woman, the Eagles would fly away and I would let the dogs out..including the pups when they were old enough.  The Eagles stalked my puppies.  I believe that one of Trica's cats by the name of Midnight narrowly escaped an Eagle one evening, he came back wet with his long hair freezing stiff as a board, something apparently tumbled him into the freezing water in one of the open springs. Sure he was kind of lovable ditsy cat and could have just fallen in by himself..but after that he didn't want to go outside at all.   I was convinced he was attacked. I told everyone that would listen that the Eagles were being a pain in the butt and they were attacking pets, everyone said that I was crazy ..the Eagles only fish and eat on road kill deer.

The Eagles Nest has always been very near the lake in an old pine tree.  We have watched them come and go, we have watched one of them give flight lessons riding the thermals and calling to their young. 
 Now for what we heard.  We heard that there were no Eagles nesting in that same old spot on the lake this year.  The DNR wanted to investigate the nest, they did and reported back to the property owner that 27 collars were found in the nest.
Twenty seven dogs and cats with collars have been a snack for these glorious creatures.  I am sure not all their catches wore collars either.

Chance weighs well over fifty pounds, it is doubtful that he will ever be taken as Eagle food, or Miney either when she visits.  But Little Elvis..he sticks out like a sore thumb..being black and weighing only about ten pounds he is the perfect size for Eagle food:(

Someone nameless reports that it is a good thing she got the tetanus shot in her butt, because the grapefruit sized swelling is much less noticeable there than on her arm:(

14 comments:

Rae said...

Oh that is so sad knowing that 27 pets found their demise in the claws of those big ruthless birds. There are probably some owners out there still wondering what ever happened to their pets.
Sorry to hear about the sore butt. I bet that it is hard sitting on that grapefruit sized lump. Maybe Far Guy should ice your butt:)

DJan said...

Wow, 27 collars! I am not surprised, given what I've learned about eagles, but if I were you I'd keep a good eye on Elvis! Fortunately the eagles I follow on Hornby Island have brought only small mammals and fish to the nest... so far.

West Side of Straight said...

Wonder who lost pets to those vicious birds! I know they've tried here, but hopefully, they haven't tried with Hooch. How's the finger coming along?

Tetongirl said...

Oh my! You weren't kidding....how AWFUL!! Of course, my 20 pound cat Tristan is probably safe....LOL.

Gail said...

Nature rules. I have heard old horror stories of eagles attempting to take small humans but do not know the truth of it.

Red tailed hawks do take some kittens here, I think.

Eagles are only carrion eaters when they have no other choice, I believe. I may be wrong and will stand corrected. Anything catchable and edible would be in danger with that large of a bird.

Good thing you kept your babies protected.

Lynda said...

I did a study on eagles once - - - to illustrate some Bible verses. They are truly a fascinating creature but I, like you, worry about small animals around any birds of prey. I have often wondered if we lost a cat here to a hawk.

Deanna said...

I have such a fascination of Eagles. They are so majestic. I always worry about our Chihuahua when we let him out to run. We have some mighty big owls and hawks around here but not very many eagles.

Judy said...

WOW!! 20 collars...I believe it though...a large eagle could easily take a medium size dog or cat...So sorry about the grapefruit...hopefully it won't stay were long...

Pamela said...

One of the birders (who is much more serious than I) was telling me the same thing about a great horned owls nest that he inspected.

I don't imagine the owl could tackle quite the same size as prey, however.

Yes... those eagles eat what is available!

L. D. said...

I almost missed this one. I have mixed feelings about the Eagles. Good read.

Lanny said...

You know how I feel about the stinkin' Eagles, I don't even like the rock band because of the avian ones! We've had them take out nearly full grown lambs - how they do it isn't a pretty sight to come across.

Mark said...

This is an urban legend. People in Skagit County WA say this happened in their county. Eagles nests with piles of dozens of pet collars is a BS story I have heard by retirees and others in the Northwest since the 1970's.

http://farsideoffifty.blogspot.com/2010/06/straight-lake-legend-of-collars.html

Far Side of Fifty said...

Well it happened right here on our nearby lake in Minnesota. Why would the local DNR guys make up a story? :)

Anonymous said...

If you keep her inside under your watchfuk eye.