Greta's Journal

Wooo Hooo!!! We caught a hot one today! Well, we all helped Kofa catch one that is. We just got out of the truck and struck a fresh track. This lion had just passed Papa's trail camera about 30minutes before, so we weren't far behind. We trailed her about a mile and a half up the dry wash, then over a low saddle, and finally up into a thicket of oak in this box canyon. Then this lion made some jumps up into the cliffs, I couldn't figure on how she got up there. Trying to find my way up, I could hear Kofa, she was already on top! Luna came blowing past me and I wished her luck. Murdock was diligently looking for a way up too. I kept trying to get up there, but Kofa said she had her held up, so not to worry. Luna made it halfway up the cliffs and stalled, she did a great job today! I think it was her first day really helping out and participating. She's doing good for 8 months old. 

Ok, I couldn't resist! Three fotos  this week, because the puppies are so cute, and I'm proud of them for getting so excited about the lion scent.

I forgot to mention that we picked up Luna on our way through New Mexico just before Christmas. Luna is the same age as Trigo, their birthdays are only a few days apart. Our friend Cory picked up Luna's sister, Gertie, so I'm sure we'll get to work with her someday too.

Trigo and Luna play together all the time and seem to be good friends. Luna is a head taller than Trigo and she has big paws. She's definitely going to be bigger than me and probably a bit bigger than Kofa. Her ears sure are long, hopefully her nose works strong! 

She's a pretty sweet girl, a bit like Henry, I get along with her fine. She really is a nice girl, her coat is as soft as velvet, and her howl is low and deep. 

We drove all night to get to our New Mexico area.  Papa let me ride in the cab, he must love me more than the others!  Our camp is fun, I found an elk carcass nearby and brought in the bones for everyone to chew on.  I love being out, there is always a bone to find.

Our first morning, we drove out in the snow to look for lion tracks.  Papa took us through some good places and found an old track.  We continued looking for a fresh track.  Finally, we found one.  He let us out and we were hot on the trail, excited by the smell of a fresh cat.  We went down into a big canyon and up into some bluffs that didn't have snow.  We don't need snow, my nose is good enough, but the snow makes it faster for us.  We went back down into another canyon and up the other side.  After a few miles, we located the lion and I started barking my heart out.  It didn't take long and Papa arrived.  He didn't like the tree, so he let the lion jump out. That got my heart a really going and he let me after it.  We all got her into another tree, but before he could dart her, she jumped again.  This time, there was no snow and I had to use my nose.  I followed that smell until it reached the snow and we were off to the races.  That old lion backed into a little hole just big enough for her backside and we were in her face.  She got me a couple times and got old Murdock too, but nothing serious; only flesh wounds!  We had the time of our lives and Gus had the best training day ever.  We think he is going to turn on soon with the training he got today.  Wooo hoooo, what a day!

It snowed all night, so Papa let us have the day off, we are just lounging by the wood stove soaking up the heat!