I was headed out of the mountains yesterday morning after checking a Bear bait. It was hot and dusty, not typical for this time of year. But none the less I assume it will better suit the survival of newborns, fledgling chicks and Ungulates alike. I rounded a turn in my pickup coming out of a shaded Cedar grove and into a hot brushy hillside to see a brand new Moose calf staggering in the road like a drunken sailor. I immediately shut my truck off so as to minimize the stress and to allow the little fellow to get where he was going. I could hear the cow coaxing him on the uphill side but I could not see her due to the brush. My truck was stopped a mere 30 yards away as I marvel at the size of these newborns, they are quite tall. I am always amazed by the fragility of newborns and how vulnerable they are. He was trying to climb the relatively gradual 4 foot cutbank but I would see he had not enough strength in his back legs and his hind end would sink and he would spill out in the road in a cloud of dust. Momma poked her head out of the brush to give me a look and judging by her size this was not her first go at motherhood. I chuckled with the thought of getting out and helping him up the bank so we could both be on our way..... but not sure how Momma would perceive my intentions. lol
After a few minuets he made it up the bank, and waiting a few more to give them plenty of time to clear away from the roadway I started my truck up and put it in gear. I rolled about 10 yards towards where the calf climbed the bank when the unexpected happened.
A full grown mature Lion blows out of the brush on the low side of the road and lands right in front of my truck, headed at a 45 degree angle up the road to where the calf entered the brush. The cat is low to the ground and his speed is stunning. He covers the 15 yards in the blink of an eye and into the brush. I am certain he was laying at the edge of the road on the game trail the Cow and Calf had traveled. Had I not been in the way I think the cat would have made his kill in the road. For whatever reason, maybe deeper into the brush would be a tougher kill, the Cat had to act now as he disappeared into the brush. Judging by the last calling I heard from the cow they are 20 yards into the brush.
Well we as humans have instincts as well, I shut the truck down and bail out running up the road barking like a dog..............anybody guess what happens next?
Topic: The unexpected (Read 309 times)
