Two unexpected guests

I’m awake early every morning and whenever the weather is correct I sit on my deck and drink coffee. I love the birds, the occasional deer and once or twice bears I see. Yesterday a large black snake appeared on the walkway and today a pig in the yard.

We live surrounded by a national forest and are constantly battling rodents. Snakes are OK, they are our allies. I am startled by snakes but not really scared. Even the rattlesnakes I’ve run into aren’t particularly scary as long as you’re aware of them and keep your distance.

Feral hogs are a different story, they are mean. I know experienced hunters that have been run up trees by hogs. I’ve been told they will kill and eat you but I’ve never heard of that actually happening. The one that showed up today seemed friendly, he didn’t run when he saw me and he came to bottom of steps and grunted at me while I was standing at the top.  He may have escaped from a family living down the road from us. In the past they had a pot-bellied pig for a pet that would come up and visit. He would even go running with Kristen and their dog, Dewey. Pig (his name) disappeared one day and we were told he was shot for digging up someone’s garden. I don’t really care if this one comes up as long as he doesn’t get in my garden but Blue will attack and fight if she sees it.