[MyDearSam]

I also live in an area with lots of wildlife. My mom lives 2 miles away on 40 acres. You can stand in her kitchen and watch wild turkeys, deer, groundhogs, skunks, raccoons, and coyotes roaming within a dozen yards of the back door. There are large owls, hawks, turkey buzzards, and we have even seen a falcon hunting. Nothing scares me like the coyotes. When Katie was about 4 years old, we were out in the yard after dark, and one of them came within about 15 feet of us. It was in full prey mode, low to the ground and creeping. I snatched Katie up and ran like mad to the house. That was 10 years ago, and I still check the yard and edge of the woods when I'm out there.