Dogs. (And cats, serial killers of songbirds.)
And cute baby bunnies.
My neighbor SHOOTS rabbits to protect the garden.
My own garden was decimated in 2023, by rabbits, mostly, possibly woodchucks too.
Nope, didn't set a trap and fire a bullet at any of 'em, and the dogs just sat there watching as the rabbits munched on my garden.
Meanwhile, my daughter was searching online for where to see bobcats in the wild in the Midwest.
Her search turned up this happy, hale and hearty HUNTER holding up his KILL -
A bobcat!
And he was thrilled to have added this to his Bucket List.
And he looks vaguely like my son, and he is very much the handsome Viking outdoorsman and hunter, AND he's a farm boy (who played college football) and he trains hunting dogs and works as a guide for weekend duck hunting expeditions....
Me: "Here is my future son in law."

Daughter: "MURDERER!" I will have nothing to do with him! (Except to chastise him online).
I'm reminded of one of my favorite memes:

Um...
yes....
I keep mentioning Mennonites and deer-slayers to my unwed nieces (and daughter). 🙂
When the apocalypse hits (some say 2024!), the Amish and Mennonites and the outdoorsmen like this bobcat slayer will be the hardiest survivors.

Recently at a farm auction I spotted two very striking young men, lean and sharp looking and well dressed with their black hats, clean shaven (my mom said that means unmarried). Turns out they're Mennonite, from a community only half an hour from my mom, but who knew?

I keep wondering if my town-raised daughter will ever understand my preoccupation with homesteading and manly men.

The kind with apocalyptic warlord potential.

(Yes. I know. Mennonites are peaceful, not warlords.)