During the 1990s, I was a wildlife agent and I was dealing primarily with problem wild animals that were causing problems in residential areas on farms or wherever there was an issue. I prefer not to name the state because at the time I was well known for the job that I did, and this story might refresh a memory and bring it back to me.

But I can tell you that this took place in the rural mountain area in the northeastern United States.

We were having a rabies epidemic primarily in raccoons.

Fur prices were down for two years,

and the raccoon population exploded.

The virus was spreading like wildfire.

I was one of a handful of people that were given pre-exposure vaccines for rabies and were trained on handling and having animals tested for the disease.

I was overwhelmed with calls and working seven days a week, and I was overwhelmed with calls in working seven days a week and I was on call 24-7.

When local citizens weren't calling me for help,

the state police and other officials were calling me out.

It seemed like this would never end.

One fall evening, I believe it was mid-September, my wife and I had just sat down for dinner and the phone rang.

My wife answered, it's for you again.

I remember thinking, I hope it's not an emergency because I'm hungry.

I could tell by the sound of the man's voice that he was irritated and anxious.

I couldn't understand a word he said.

I interrupted him and said that he needed to calm down because I couldn't understand him.

Or do you speak English? he said. I answered, yes sir, but I am a little slow.

He chuckled. That seemed to break the ice.

He went on to tell me that he had either coyotes, a big cat, or maybe a bear taking his calves.

The predator was walking right into the barn and taking the animals.

This had been happening for two weeks.

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