Boza came to life at around 4:30 a.m. and started to bark. I grabbed my coat, boot and therm pants. We ran outside to see what was invading our space…
We found tracks near the outhouse and followed them. Small tracks of something hopping. Boza was hot on its trail and the snow was flying as we ran through the yard. Then on one of my paths I cut for Boza, we surprised a huge wood rat. He was trying to do his ratty business in our yard and left us a little pee spot, plus a solid or two of waste product. With a squeal and literally a scream, he shot down our path, with Boza barking on its tail…
Now I am here to tell you that I have watched Boza leaping from spot to spot and I call it the rabbit hop. This rat hit the deep snow and he hopped just like Boza does. What came next was cool. He went through the fence like the fence was not there. This was a huge rat, I mean fat and sassy (he looked as big as an elephant at the time it happened.) As you can see from the photo, he went through the chain link hole. I am amazed at how rats and mice can squeeze through such tiny holes. The fence did not even move or twang as it passed through. This was a fat rat… 😉
I know this is the wood rat that has been under our house several times and he ran into the neighbor’s yard and disappeared. Looks like we need to get ourselves a rat and remove him from existence. They will tear up a house quick. He comes from the little community trash dump nearby and I am sure that food is getting scarce in that tiny dump area…
Boza is sleeping now, but I have to say that his nose knows when something is in the yard…
Just thought I would pass on what Boza and I do for fun in the Tiny Russian Village…
WtR