Progress Report (or Final Examination)

Well.

Jake here.

To report on my current status regarding

Discovering The Hunter Instinct.

You be the judge.

Multiple opportunities have presented themselves recently.

Unashamedly, I'll tell you about all of them.

One.

You know I have lots of chances to observe wildlife

from our deck.

I love to watch.

And I silently do so.

Peering between the rails.

I could stand out there for hours.

Just watching.

Recently

(since the first snow)

a bushy tailed squirrel has decided that our deck is a perfect spot

(so I'm told)

for burying nuts

and seeking seed.

This fella seems to have taken up daily residence

Fully well knowing I know he's there.

And not really worrying about that at all.

Why should he?

What do I do?

Every day.

I quietly watch.

It's really quite relaxing.

Enjoying the wildlife out the window.

And very comfortable.

With a soft leather sofa for resting my heavy and weary head.

(It's hard work watching squirrels, you know.)

The door to the deck is almost always open.

I could go right outside and join that bushy tailed rodent.

But why should I?

Life is good.

Right from this vantage.

Besides.

There is a second option.

Recently during one of my turns on the computer

I found a video of Squirrel Action.

(Thanks Mango)

Now that got my attention.

And I got a bit more animated.

(Not a lot, but I did watch that movie a few times in a row.)

Finally some real action started happening.

Another squirrely-type found his way on the deck out the window.

This one called for an immediate response.

No head resting and quiet observation for this fella.

No.

This one demanded an up-close examination.

And lots more action.

Then

This squirrely made his way into the house.

Which called for an immediate, swift and exacting pursuit.

So.

You decide for yourselves.

Is the instinct there?

Am I a hunter?

My people've come to the conclusion

that I'm a sweet softy, at heart.

Those live creatures (except for the birds in the bushes)

are all my potential friends.

I like 'em all.

I love for them to come around.

It really doesn't strike me

that I should bark, chase or hunt them.

Unless they squeak or crackle

feel soft and fuzzy in my mouth

and live in my toy basket

hide in all corners of the house

or sleep in my bed.

So.

Maybe this really isn't a Progress Report.

After all.

Maybe it's the Final Examination.

And maybe since the course "Discovering Hunter Instincts"

didn't specify exactly what the intended prey was

I passed with flying colors.

That makes me happy.