Footprints in the Snow

There are two sets of tiny prints leading up to our back deck. It is a mystery as to whom they belong. We have been feeding our calico stray for over three months, but now and then another black and white cat shows up looking for food. This unusually cold weather has brought out a huge orange cat. Both of these must be strays to be wandering around in this bitter cold. My heart goes out to them. They must be cold and hungry and we guess that one or the other finishes the food that Skitty Kitty leaves behind. Another thought is that we are now feeding three abandoned critters.

Growing up in the north woods of Minnesota was a great place for footprints in the snow sightings. My father could identify each one of them, and taught me which was the hare, the deer, the wolf or the squirrel. Winters and snow were plentiful in those deep woods and I learned who had been visiting our neighborhood.

Moving to the southwest corner of South Dakota was another matter. Snow came less often and disappeared within hours or a few days. There were a few occasions when we spotted the tracks of a cougar, the deer, wild turkeys or pack rats, but these sightings were fewer than during my childhood years in the snows of Minnesota that arrived in October and remained through April.

While we lived in the country south of Hot Springs I still felt the familiar thrill from my childhood when I came across a set of tell-tale prints crossing our land. I knew who had visited us the night before.

After the wildfire we moved into Hot Springs where I see more prints every morning when I open the curtains to the day than I did when we lived in the country. Of course the town is surrounded by the hills that are home to the turkeys, deer and other wildlife.They visit us more in the winter when their food sources are scarce and our bird feeders are full.

Snow has been more constant this winter and I am able to identify our nightly visitors most mornings. I still enjoy observing tracks in the snow, but the sight of prints of the stray cats is a bit upsetting. They should be enjoying the comforts of a home, curled up on a lap or a sofa, or sitting in a window sunning themselves and twitching at the birds having lunch at the feeder.Someone, somewhere at sometime discarded them carelessly, leaving them to fend for themselves in a world that at times, may be cold, windy and lacking in nourishment.

For now I find some comfort in providing them with sustenance that will, hopefully, ease their journey through our back yard.