A little to close for comfort!

This morning at about 7:30 as chores were in progress, our dogs where going crazy once again, barking, howling and at what?  As I looked out the balcony doors to our back yard there it was, about 1/2 an acre away taunting the dogs as it moved back and forth.  Now I have to say I can't be 100% sure whether it was a coyote or a wolf but it was quite tall and in my opinion a little to close for comfort.  It was an extremely cold night last night and the dogs where barking steady for a few hours, but with complete darkness surrounding you its hard to locate what they are barking at, so I have to believe that this animal is hungry and looking for food so coming close to our homestead as it knows our chickens are around.  Guess its time to lock the chickens in the barn at night!
So now you have the overprotected paranoid mother for a little bit, as I get used to nature coming close. I now find I am repeating to my children to stay close where I can see you.  I sure bet they will get sick of hearing that very soon, but when you take children out of the city and place them in the country were they want to explore...well I am just keeping them safe until I know our surroundings as well!