Of Mice, Moles, and Men (Ladies Too!) Tell Us About YOUR Animal Encounters -- Pets, Pests, And Everything In-Between!

These are some of the nonvenomous snakes that eat Copperheads too.
Before bed I was watching a few relaxing wildlife videos. 😊
https://youtube.com/shorts/df0ydJlX_3k?feature=shared

Am I really that hungry?

the one that got away. shot is a state park just like the one above

Puerto Vallarta

These guys are an invasive species now in both the everglades and
residential areas in south Florida. Hunters with air guns are being called in frequently.
They are out of control just like the pythons in the everglades.

...when we have all of this right here in the BDF

Sad answer alert. 🫣

My parents bought a puppy when I was younger. I ended up being her caretaker and owner. She'd been like a best friend to me for 14 years.
When she was 14 my parents decided she needed to be put down. Unsurprisingly she had quite a few health problems.
So what they did is make the appointment, then decided to tell me what they've decided. And I had maybe one day till the appointment.
Then they went out of town, leaving me alone in the house. And needing to take her by myself.
I tried to be strong, before and after, but upon arriving at home was when it really hit me. No dog to greet me, to pet, to beg for my food haha.
This was the first time ever that I had to grieve over the loss of anyone or anything. And I had to be alone in the house. No parents, no pets.
As I sat there trying to hold back I couldn't help a few tears from coming out still. And those tears led to plenty more.
So there I sat alone in the house with only a TV to distract me.

It was hard enough for me to lose my pit/chow mix at age 65 when my dog was 16 years 4 months old. That was in 2016. I can't even imagine how it was for you at 14. Please hold onto the funny and good memories as they help get you through the harder times. How are you doing now?

It was actually my dog who was 14, I was 20ish, maybe a little younger.
But still difficult for me.
I'm fine now as that was over 30 years ago. But she still comes to mind every so often.

Stop on our hike to Machu Picchu, Peru

Here's PeeWee - a pitbull / chow mix. 65 pounds. We lost her April 4 2026 around noon due to old age. She was 16 years 4 months old.
I could post a few pages of the gunny stuff and fun we had - later perhaps.
Losing her felt like my heart was ripped out and stomped on. Many many tears.
I promised myself, No More Dogs and hardened my heart to even the posibility of another.
One year to the hour my wife came in from outside and said "There's a dog in the driveway that won't go away"
I went out to find a pitbull/ chow mix female on the other side of the fence. I started to harden my heart again, left a bowl of water and went back inside. About 56 minutes I went back to check and she was still there laying down in the driveway.. I continued to say No More Dogs and went back inside. Another 45 minutes went by and she started to howl - kinda unusual for a pit. So I went back to check again. She came up to the gate with a high level case of the wiggle butt This time I went outside the fence to pet her. She accepted my petting. As I hardened my heart again I bent down very close to her face. She leaned forward and licked just the tip of my nose and it felt like an electric charge go through my body from my head to my feet. But still I hatdened me heart and said No More Dogs and went back inside. Later she was gone. Never saw her before or after that day.
Got me wondering if it was actually a dog or an angel. I once saw what I think was an angel in dog form so I suppose it's possible. It was a pure white German Shepard that accompanied another angel in human form.
The 2 shots below are from 2005 when she was 5 years old.

Well time went by and I regret not taking that dog in but still kept a hard heart. Then last may my wife came in from outside and said "There's a dog sitting on the side of the road". I'm thinking bring it in and take it to the spca. Well I got to tje door and there he sat in perfect posture. Hind legs by his side, ears up in expectation, tongue just barley out while panting. This bread has a different shape to their rib cage. It's sort of oval rather than round so that both front legs can touch at the upper end of theri elbow joint - looks like there's only 1 leg. One look and my heart melted. I took one step out the door and I felt 2 fingers reach into my chest and touch my heart. Had a very brief talk with my wife and we quickly agreed that this is a gift from the Lord. He walked through the fence gate and straight into the house.
He was very malnourished weighing only 23 pounds. Took him to the vet the next day and he was in very good condition exvept for his weight. The vet said 'He just needs some groceries." In about 6 weeks he went from 23 to 40 pounds. His last check up was early May and he is now 52 pounds.
He is a snoodle. Cross between a giant schnauzer and a poodle. Truly a gift from the Lord for a lot of reasons. I need him.

This is not suprising kids with a dog but..

One day, while I was underage, 17, and still living with my parents, and I wanted a dog so badly, after my first (small) dog had passed away. I searched from the internet for dogs, mix breeds, and found one, german shepherd mix, a rescue.

So, one day, I tied my hair up in a ponytail (I looked older that way, so no one would question my age..), I took my bike and cycled over 8km (over 5 miles) to the town, took a train to a another town. So, I went to get that whimmy dog, got her, took a train back. Bought a meat pie (with my last money I currently had.. ugh, that irresponsible kid I was..) which I shared with my dog and then cycled back home.

After I got home, went inside from the back door into the kitchen, with that dog velcroed to me,
my mom askes: 'What is that? Is that on loan?'
me: 'No, it's mine.'

So, I did keep that velcro dog, a lot of work, as she was skittish of everything and everyone, but I am glad she was with me along the way in my darkest years. She got me throug a lot.

My mom got used to her after all that suprise, and Whim got treats from her often. Sorry mom, for the scratched doors, floors and chewed door handles..

But my mom has been afraid of dogs (big ones especially) as she was bitten by one when she was younger, so she wasn't pleasantly suprised with me walking in with a big dog one day.. Not the best thing to suprise your parents with, but still not the worst either...