A Half-Reminder

In a very real sense, life on our blue planet is founded upon savagery.  We are surrounded by predators.  Consider the hawks in stiff circles above.  The leggy spiders bursting from shadow to light as they ambush hapless passersby.

Big fish eat little fish.

And, of course, we fully acknowledge the apex beasts afield: wolves, bears, big cats.

Our own pets—sweet as they seem—are predators just the same.

On occasion, a field mouse will somehow gain entry to my house.  My 20 pounds of housecat is first to notice such events.  He immediately switches into hunting mode when he detects a mouse.  I will find him hunched at various places around the house watching corners or peering under furniture.  I might notice him sniffing along the floor.

The day before yesterday, my cat switched into hunting mode.  I saw him sniffing at the space under the range.  He lingered near the toe space below the kitchen sink.  While I was in Missoula teaching a class yesterday, that girl texted me a photograph of what she found on the living room floor.

-- Mitchell Hegman