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PART THREE: The Loss of Heidi – Ho
I heard
the barking at approximately 11:30 p.m. and assumed another fox was annoying
Heidi. (She had been restless/nervous for the past two days and occasionally
growling.) The next morning she was not at the door to do chores... I was still unconcerned; she could be out for a rabbit or squirrel. By coffee time I was alarmed and by noon I knew something terrible had happened. I began the search that would last three days before I gave up. Two days later – after a light snow cover - the wolves would return at night, take over the yard and urinate over everything. |
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A Letter to Heidi... Hello you little sneak-around; Well I guess by now you realize you did a very, very, dumb thing... you stupid little thief- how could you? You darn well know what – go out at night and get yourself killed ... I mean you were not a pup or even a juvenile – you were a seven-year-old bush veteran!! Yes, I know it was a pack; one or two would have never got you cause you were such a snake-in-the-grass. Heidi, did you ever think of me? What do you think I would feel like? You don’t really expect me to hold intelligent conversations with the cat!! Do you? (Heidi, she misses you terribly.) Like who now is supposed to check on me when I’m out cutting wood and stop the chain saw? Who is to do chores with me and clear the way of bears, bees and butterflies? Remember how you would know which path to take by the pail I picked up? Remember our trek into the Badlands? You were just a pup ... got yourself lost near Miracle Ridge and freaked out both Jared and myself. We could never leave a plate of food near you cause it would be gone faster then you can bark “lunch”. Yet you were such a clean, polite and courteous dog ... everyone’s friend. Even when hard times were upon us, you would look up and say, ‘’ Is it okay to eat now?’‘ Heidi, I hope you are aware that since you left the rodents have moved in ... weasels, squirrels, a marten and fisher... oh yeah – let’s not forget the mice ... and by the way, the cat is getting fat and lazy, for there is no one to give her exercise. (She ate all my salmon and sardines!) Yes, on many lonely nights I play the “if” game ... if only I had gone out and called your name ... if only I had gone out and fired a few rounds into the night ... if only I had chained you for the night. I’m so sorry, HEIDI . I went up on the antenna hill and called you every morning for one month before I gave up ... is that not how long you would wait for me every summer when I went on holidays? Remember how you would swim up to the floats in greeting as we taxied in? My favorite time with you was working the portages ... yes, I did all the work while you chased those criminal squirrels! (You could have helped!) Comical episodes ... I can’t think of any cause you were always funny. Not really like your predecessor were you? That was one mean, angry bitch – wasn’t she? (But she did not get herself killed by wolves , did she?) HEIDI, I have to go now ... so I’ll say goodbye. Thank you for your seven years and by the way you picked the right fall to check out ... its been one helleva winter... or did you know? See you, you little thief... Your good buddy, MIKE PS. For two weeks after your departure I kept hoping you had run off with a stray boy-friend!! Also, for about three weeks I had dreams about you every night ... you were happy and well. Heidi, I guess I can’t talk you into returning for a couple of days? Just to say goodbye ... you never finished the beaver meat... |
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A Letter to The Wolves... I really don’t have much to say to you ... I mean what do you say to NATURE’S killers/murders/terrorists. This will not be vengeance or revenge, there is no anger or hate ... after all, is this not NATURE? So … I will kill you just as you killed my Heidi. You will die, as surely as there is a full moon, eternity, or this late winter sunrise that I write under. No, your so-called sixth sense or your wise-wolf ways will not save you. Enjoy your last summer you bastards. I assumed we had a pact ... you would leave my two pets alone and not ravage my trap line ... I in turn would not deliberately trap you plus I would throw out the odd trapping carcass and thus prevent your starvation. Many times you broke your end of the bargain ... destroying lynx, otter, mink and numerous other fur -bearing animals ... and now Heidi. I hope you enjoyed the meal of my companion – it was your last in two months was it not? It has regularly been minus 40 with three feet of snow ... feeling hungry? Or are you even alive? I know the four of you as well as the woods you run in ... the giant alpha male, your equally large mate, and the two juveniles - one stronger than the other. The four of you know what is next ... do you not? Nature’s cycle ! There is no where, I REPEAT, no place ... either here or in the great beyond, where you or your kind can hide. This time, next year you will be dead and your pelts will be up for auction. Your only hope for salvation is my demise so take my word I WILL live long enough to kill you. May I suggest you start howling to your wolf–gods for the above request. You took from me the only piece of reality I had left. For this, seven of your kind will die; one for each year of Heidi’s young and innocent life ... and again I repeat ... enjoy your last summer! Humbly ... your executioner ... Mike@ Thompson Lake 
PS.
I do not profess to be the “ Great White Hunter/Trapper” – I’m just an
average trapper with some perseverance – that is all. Why am I so sure
I will trap the wolves? Simply – they make mistakes/errors like Heidi did.
Yes, they are very hard to trap, but next season I will apply all my energy
toward wolves ... nothing else. (I did destroy four of their kind last year.)
A "Message"! A predication from Thompson Lake: Wolf attacks upon humans will become as common as bear attacks within the next 10 - 20 years. |
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