Pepper and the coyote

Finally Pepper spotted the coyote, who had been grazing for mice and baby bunnies in the newly plowed field straight across the road from the bunkhouse for at least 20 minutes. Bill and I had started out with binoculars, then got out out the spotting scope, and finally thanked the coyote for a rural evening's entertainment and went in to make dinner.

Pepper, as almost always, followed us inside to see if she could help.

All of a sudden she was up on the bed looking out the window and barking like mad. What made her notice?

Because we wanted to see what would happen in this unexpected Act II, and because there were no cars coming down highway 177, we opened the door and out darted the pup. Across the street. Under the fence. Up to about 250 feet from the coyote. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Shuffle shuffle. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark. Bark.

I think that's dog for, "What are you doing. I'm in charge here. Either come over here, introduce yourself and play with me, or get the hell out of here!"

The interloper ignored Pepper utterly. Didn't even look up.

After a few more barks just to prove she wasn't a complete woos, domestic doggy turned around, trotted back across the road, allowed herself to be led back inside and took a good look around to see if there were any dirty dishes that needed licking.