The Mole
I heard the squeal, so went outside to see what the cat had caught, closely
accompanied by Tess, our German Shepherd, who was eager to see as well.
She was trying in vain to dig out a mole that had strayed too near to the
surface. She must have frightened it for it to squeal, but it was too quick, and had dug itself in out of harms way. Despite her best efforts, Tabatha has never actually caught a mole.
I called Derinda, put Tabatha out of the way, and we watched the ground. It was spellbinding; the earth was moving as the mole tunnelled around under the surface, first one way, and then the next.
Tess came up and watched as well, and we watched a full ten minutes, before going back indoors.
A few minutes later I heard the squeal again. I peered out of the study window, and Tess, unable to get indoors, had deposited the mole on the grass outside where I could see it.
We dashed out, to find the dog had dug out the mole and caught it for us. There it was on the grass, frightened stiff, a little wet, but totally unharmed.
We put both the cat and Tess away, I picked up the mole and put it back in the hole the dog had dug, and after a few minutes to recover, it dug its escape. Later a new mole hill had appeared, so it was away safe.
We could hardly tell Tess off, she just thought we wanted to catch it, and was doing us a service. Very scary having an intelligent dog!
accompanied by Tess, our German Shepherd, who was eager to see as well.
She was trying in vain to dig out a mole that had strayed too near to the
surface. She must have frightened it for it to squeal, but it was too quick, and had dug itself in out of harms way. Despite her best efforts, Tabatha has never actually caught a mole.
I called Derinda, put Tabatha out of the way, and we watched the ground. It was spellbinding; the earth was moving as the mole tunnelled around under the surface, first one way, and then the next.
Tess came up and watched as well, and we watched a full ten minutes, before going back indoors.
A few minutes later I heard the squeal again. I peered out of the study window, and Tess, unable to get indoors, had deposited the mole on the grass outside where I could see it.
We dashed out, to find the dog had dug out the mole and caught it for us. There it was on the grass, frightened stiff, a little wet, but totally unharmed.
We put both the cat and Tess away, I picked up the mole and put it back in the hole the dog had dug, and after a few minutes to recover, it dug its escape. Later a new mole hill had appeared, so it was away safe.
We could hardly tell Tess off, she just thought we wanted to catch it, and was doing us a service. Very scary having an intelligent dog!