The rising sun gave purchase to a cotton candy sky, as early morning dawned on the east side of Shiloh Road. I turned into the driveway of the Holifield Science Learning Center, Living Materials Center and backed my truck into a parking space. As I called my wife on my cell phone to report a safe arrival I noticed a large tree at the corner of the building beginning to shake. Then to my horror, the tree slowly arced forward and sank painfully to the ground. Straddling the tree was the biggest Bobcat I have ever seen! It must have been crouching just around the corner, out of sight. I do remember a low growling noise just before the attack. I heard a sickening crunch and watched in amazement as the big cat grabbed its prey mid-body and lifted it from the ground. Parts of the body were falling away in a horrific shower of pieces. The killing machine turned slowly, looked around for the nearest cover, then carrying its quarry the big cat turned slowly and chugged off in the direction of the woods.

After 14 years, the building needs some repairs and remodeling, so I expected there to be big trucks and heavy machinery parked here and there, but the sight of the machines at work caught me off guard. The construction crew has been measuring, marking, painting the ground with iridescent colors and putting up little orange flags all week. Our makeover is under way.

We are appreciative of Todd Ferguson, construction superintendent, and his crew taking the time to report an exposed snake, toad or lizard. Staff members, Tammy Welch, office manager extraordinaire, and Beverly Lewis, building maintenance supervisor, have spent most of the week rescuing and relocating wildlife that has been displaced by the construction.

After all is said and constructed we will have a new security gate at the entrance drive, concrete under and fences around the dumpsters, new support beams, roof repair and more storage area. There will be a new enclosed courtyard on the east side of the building with a dirt area for hoofed stock, tortoise and turtle pens, and chickens.

I know that the outcome will be well worth the machinery everywhere, deafening noise, dust, and having to park at Albertson's. I still love bobcats, but I will be happy when this one is gone.

Now for something remotely related, and the reason we are putting in a new gate, I give you the question of the week. To those of you who own three-wheelers, four-wheelers, four-wheel drives or any other vehicle designed to generally destroy or mess up the environment I ask, "Is it simple frustration that makes you want to drive those things over manicured park grass or neatly trimmed nature center trails killing wildlife and wrecking their homes?" Some of us would really like to know.