MY OWN WILD KINGDOM

I must admit that the last month has been interesting. I've moved to the East hills overlooking San Jose. The view is awe-inspiring. I have yet to become tired of it. It has been extremely hot recently which makes it somewhat uncomfortable and the heat will not be easing up for the next week or so. Still, it's not enough for me to give up the beauty or all the nature happening around me. Nearly every night I am serenaded by coyotes and even heard a kill a few nights ago. That was somewhat disturbing, but it is nature up here. I find my eyes drift to the skies where I am amazed by the aero-acrobatics of various raptors. There is a huge ground spider's web right outside the front door with a tunnel that Shelob (that's what I call her) sits in regularly. There are always spiders indoors, but I prefer to move them outside where their lives and mine can be less interactive. I saw this tarantula walking on the driveway during an evening stroll. (For more images from my new home, check out my photobucket page) This was right after a wild boar growled at Mike and I because we were a little too close to where he/she was. We had no idea since she was in the brush, but a flock of wild turkeys nearby were clucking away which will be a warning the next time. There are several flocks of turkeys and Mike's collection of feathers grows nearly every day. He also went on a hike last week and discovered the bones of a cow including a gorgeous skull (I can't wait to see what piece of art he will turn it into). Deer sightings are a daily occurrence with many does, fawns, and a couple bucks (neither bigger than 4 points, but they're young I think).
The newest addition to the menagerie is a young coyote that likes the apples that have fallen to the ground. I read at a website that eating fruit is normal for them this time of year, but he still looks really sickly to me. I had a brief discussion with my neighbor yesterday and she admitted to putting out both grapes and water for it. I told her that I wasn't going to call the landlord, but after what I've read I've decided that I should. The website says that feeding them makes them more aggressive and coyote attacks on humans have increased dramatically over the past five years in CA. I'm sure she believes she's doing what's best for the creature, but that is not true. I will leave a note if I don't see her explaining that I will be calling the landlord. We all rent property from him and since this is his beef cow farm, I think he has a right to decide what happens to it. I also think she's just putting off the inevitable which seems crueler than having someone come up and shoot it since it could take some time for it to die on it's own.
What I've come to realize living here is that nature takes care of her own. I hate to see suffering as much as the next person, but nothing that happens in nature is malicious. It is just how things are. I can see how living here will help me in my own questions of existence and purpose. I'm looking forward to all the future lessons she has for me. Stay tuned and I'll try to share them as the happen.