During our season of biking, we have had some interesting encounters with wildlife. We were biking past a section of tall grasses on the side of the path. The grouse flew across our path at an angle. Looking down, John spied several eggs in the low bushes. The mother bird continued to get our attention to lead us away from her nest.
While biking on a rails to trails, we found that a chipmunk decided to race our bike. We raced for several yards before he made a quick dash to the side between the front and back wheels.
Driving down a long straightaway, a squirrel acted as an unofficial greeter. He produced a series of barking sounds when we stopped to take his photo. Never taking to the trees, he stood his ground.
When we were crossing a long bridge over a river, we noticed a family of ducks in the middle. They turned to go back the way they had come. The last duckling toppled to the deck, exhausted. The drake made a snap decision and left the small duckling to the biker’s mercy. After we crossed the bridge, the hen rescued the small duck. They swam away down the river.
Skunks are rarely seen but the their lasting olfactory signature can be detected for days. Dogs that have had an encounter are well marked.
Living near a wooded lot, we watch a small flock of turkeys as they make their way to the cement leaf waterer basin. Often they will have a scuffle with outspread wings to show dominance. The hens will vie for seeds and water, while the tom placidly watches from the nearby hillside. Order is soon restored and the group continues into the woods.
There is no hunting allowed in our area. The deer ignore humans before they saunter across the street. Last year, twin fawns played up and down the neighborhood. They were very small. The orphans followed an older doe before mating time.
Birds too stay close to people’s homes. We had a nest of robins in a small lilac bush. Our security camera took daily photos of the nesting mother hatching the eggs to see when the first baby took flight. They hop from the nest at 14 days old but stay near the nest for two more weeks. Both parents are kept busy finding worms and bugs to feed their babies.
Wrens have been known to build their nest in hanging flower pots. Our lovely begonia was sacrificed so the babies didn’t get wet from watering.
Our front porch has the decorative touch of spiders as they spin cobwebs along one side of the porch. Catching many small insects to feed the hungry brood. When older, the spiders allow the wind to aide in their escape.
On our second camera raccoons , possums, deer and cats are caught passing through. Their eyes shine red with the light of the camera.
Even reptiles can be visitors. Last week, we noticed a large turtle, 12 inches in diameter. Worrying about it so close to the road, we returned to call Turtle rescue. To our surprise, the turtle had made it’s way across a front yard and was heading towards the woods.
On sunny days, we will see snakes stretched out in the warming sun. Often, they resemble branches . We try to avoid long objects that could be a snake.
We have had bats in the area. John built a bat house for them The house is a large rectangle box, painted black to gather heat. The box is open at the bottom to allow the bats to gather in clusters. After little luck attracting bats, we found that the bats prefer the underpass of low bridges to our boxes.
Finally the seed and suet feeders are a favorite place in all seasons. Larger birds knock the overflow food to be gather by the turkeys, squirrels and chipmunks.
The wildlife doesn’t appear so wild anymore.
Not following the rules
We have visited many National parks.
In most, there are signs not to feed the wildlife.
Sometimes, the wildlife helps themselves.
While visiting Yosemite, John and Ruth decided to climb to the top of a waterfall.
“I’ll sit here by the water and knit.”
Busy with the pattern, I didn’t notice visitors slowing down and taking out their phones.
A dozen of the small grey and white squirrels cavorted around my bench.
They must smell the peanut and honey sandwiches in my backpack.
One squirrel jumped into my lap.
Startled, I jumped, scattering the squirrels in all directions.
When John and Ruth returned, they found me pacing.
“What took you two so long?”
“We crossed the bridge over the stream.”
“Well, I was shooing away the squirrels”
“What squirrels?”
They had disappeared.
“Well, they were here.”
My family believed I made the story up.
carolaspot@aol.com October 9th, 2023
traveling up and down the blind highway 