Midnight Marauders of the Wapiti Kind - ELK in My IRIS
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
by Marijo Phelps
We were dead tired, managed to stay awake until about 8:30.
I woke up at 10:30 hearing what I thought was “whistle boogers" - well, what do you call them when they cause you to breathe and make a shrill whistling sound? It might not have been Mick because our older kitty Katy was asleep on the bed right between our pillows. She has kidney function issues and is probably not long for this world so she doesn’t go to her condo in the garage to sleep anymore, but that is a different story.
“HONEY there are ELK in my iris!" Hum, no more whistle boogers now that everyone was awake but actually, what I probably heard was the elk talking to each other – they are not only gregarious but vocal.
I grabbed my bath robe and ran to the front door. From past experience I know if you talk to them they cock their heads and listen (unless it is hunting season and you want one in the freezer). If you YELL and clap your hands, they might jump back a few feet and then they cock their heads and stare at you. If you yell, run towards then and do a little barking – they are curious but usually move only several yards away.
Well, we are talking about my IRIS here – the prize winning ones. The ones I have slaved over for 5 years now to see what will grow at 8600 feet…. If the elk eat and pull them out of the ground and they do, believe me! there will be no iris in the springtime. I just planted some new ones this past summer to get a root system going and didn’t want those destroyed in one giant elk picnic.
SO I hit the front door and I was GROWLING. My hubby was watching from a window and said that some had been laying down in the yard by the bird feeders. They didn’t get up and run. He said they did a rocket-like movement and were gone. The black plastic snow fence fooled some of them - one brave wapiti jumped it the rest ran the length and then around it to smooth wire fence they felt comfortable jumping.
There were at least thirty of them and probably more – the ground thumped and shook. Then I made a BIG mistake – I talked to them. Almost to a number they put on their brakes, turned and ogled me with those immense brown eyes. So, what could I do? With my “adrenalin high" I wound up again and gave them my best LARGE dog growl, or maybe they thought I was a bear complete with red bathrobe. They scattered and left for the vacant land across the dirt road.
“Why didn’t you yell and clap at them?"
“My IRIS! They wouldn’t leave if it did that – you have been hunting the other times I have had midnight elk encounters, honey, you’d not believe how much it takes to get them out of my flower beds…. ELK BUFFET"
“Well, I didn’t want them destroying the fence or themselves…."
In the morning I checked – some iris eaten down to the bare nubs BUT the rhizome was still intact, elk poop on the snow and some scuffed up dirt but the snow fence and the perimeter fence look fine… oops, I better go and check the poor seedlings!
I am still functioning on adrenalin overload!
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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More commentsMarijo, you are such a lively storyteller. It read like a vacation adventure. Let me know when you've got some elk soup, if you're not vegetarian like I dream of becoming. ~mogama~Well the RN here has had several nutrition classes over the years and we need that animal protein to build and repair out bodies - I have some sugar problems and cannot do the rice, beans and corn routine SO - yes, I have made many things out of elk over the years but our elk season is over in CO and you have to have a tag for a specific area (I hunt too) and our area is difficult to get a tag for... besides, who'd want to shoot their neighbors even if they are ruining the iris! I might send you a picture.... THANKS for joining my fan club!! and thanks for stopping by!Marijo
Thanks Marijo for sharing your encounter with the Elk. I hope you will have your Iris blooming in Spring. Thank you for a well-written piece. ~Nenita~I appreciate your reading and commenting! The iris will survive but I haven't checked those out in the BACK yard....
Marijo, good and amusing article. Interesting place to live! By the way, me and my husband are also born again. My husband, Steve, has written some Christian books and if you're ever interested, type in Steve Fortosis on Amazon and you can take a look.Thanks so much Debra for coming by and your comments - I will want to look up your hubby's books too! Marijo
Marijo, you tell a great story! HA! I can't help but giggle as I have a pretty good vision of what was going on there. I could also see Mick chuckling as he watches you from the window. You are a brave soul to live in the boonies like you do. But don't move, we need your stories to help bring laughter to our day :-) Hugs, TYou should come and visit - you probably will not see the elk in our yard as we have only sen them 3-4 times in almost 5 years. My feet were COLD!
Funny story Marijo!You are brave and I would not live in the boonies. I also wouldn't go out in my yard to meet those huge elk. Thanks for sharing.Love, hugs and blessings,MichelleAhh, it is sort of like Woodbridge when we had an irrigation ditch behind and then vineyards and saw mama skunks with their trail of babies.... actually this place is wonderful - no house break ins or even vandalism for at least 29 years says one neighbor...Thanks for your encouragement - did make for an adrenalin filled night.
Wow, Marijo. I kind of wqould like to see such magnificent creatures! Maybe moreso in a gunsight, though!Great story!I hunt so I hear you - however, so far all I have shot during elk season is a target.... they are HUGE - well Mule deer are big compared to white tails - I have hunted in Texas - we lived there after we married near Lindale/Tyler/Van. Thanks for your good encouragement - they are something - we have had as many as 300 in the yard (well our place and several adjoining ones - counted them the next day - incredible! I do a pretty mean cow call with just my voice and have had a bull bugling at me and trying to get me to come with the rest of his girls - we had company from South Africa and Armenia and those ladies were enthrawled!
Marijo, I enjoyed the article and emotion you put into it. I live in PA, but we only have deer in my part of the state. I can relate though.Hubby is hunting now so NO ELK tonight I hope... They are awesome critters - our mulies are big enough but the elk? incredible thanks for reading and commenting!
Just had to read this again. I loved the article. Could just picture the whole thing! Verna Mull alias Cheery BlossomOh, yah, bear feet and all....Thanks Verna!
Great anecdote from your life. I always enjoy reading these sorts of stories particularly when the author can bring them to life. You did that and more. I'm glad the Irises survived, if somewhat battered.Thanks - and I do appreciate your kind encouragement!
I used to have a bunch of them. Root borers got almost all of them. A patch of wild ones seem to be immune. I've never gotten an elk. Haven't hunted them much. Oh, yea, you read one of my adventures trying. Of course, the beer cut a few hunts short.I am thanking the Lord that I was pulled, feet first, out of the bottle by Him - do you know that (money permitting) we drank wine coolers by the gallon (gallon jug of wine) and for desert had ice cream with galliano and brandy in the blender, my favorite was Bacardi 151 and coke - one of those and I couldn't do anything but sit on the floor, mai tais, harvey wallbangers, kalaua - you name it and I drank it - bottle or two of strawberry wine after my PM shift at work to "relax" - I am so glad those days are in the tear vier mirror and I am living and enjoying every minute nowadays! Marijo
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