In our North Dallas neighborhood, apparently…


This sign is currently by the side of the road in Far, Far North Dallas…on Davenport…north of Campbell and south of Frankfort. And while many reading this entry might find it incredulous that such warnings are necessary, we can speak from experience…

There’s critters ’round these here parts.

As I’ve mentioned now and then, we seem to have an abundance of wildlife in the area, mostly along the several creeks and railroad right-of-ways in this area of town.

In the past two years, we’ve personally seen the following:

— Hawks (lots)
— Coyotes (several)
— Rabbits (so many, that they must be multiplying like, well, rabbits…)
— A Red Fox
— Two Armadillos
— Numerous Raccoons
— A Possum (in our actual backyard!)

We have not yet seen a bobcat. But I assume this sign is out because, from what I’ve heard, there was an actual bobcat sighting very near my parent’s house last week. (Less than a mile from here…one creek over…)

The last animal sighting by me personally was a Coyote, just last week while I was walking the Kiowa Creek trail at the bottom of the hill.

It was about 5 in the afternoon, and the Coyote was walking –rather nonchalantly– from the end of an alley, across the street, and back into the Kiowa greenbelt. He was only about fifty to a hundred feet in front of me, and if I hadn’t been so stunned I would’ve remembered to whip out my camera and take a shot (picture, that is…). He turned, looked at me as if in total boredom, then slowly loped back into the brush and creek bottom.

What most folks don’t realize is that most every North Dallas creek eventually winds its way down to White Rock Creek, and into its vast greenbelt/lake area. And there are lots of critters down there.

Basically, our little neighborhood creeks are critter superhighways.

They find their way up and down these green areas, and pop out now and then…right in the middle of suburbia.

It bothers a lot of people, from what I can tell. So, I know this next thought will probably not be popular with everyone.

I personally think it’s marvelous. North Dallas could use a little more wildness now and then.