Watching the Wildlife
This shouldn't be an unusual post for the dwellers of any rural area anywhere in the world, really. The fact that people share the planet with a variety of critters is as new as how to make fire or where to locate the moon. This doesn't make any sudden sightings of certain animals any less exciting.
Meet Tryon, North Carolina, a little sleepy town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, home to a few thousand people and, very likely, enough different species of animals to fill up an entire ark.
Coming back to Tryon, NC starts harmless enough. On our property, there are squirrel and chipmunk sightings, which is enough to cock an ear whenever a branch snaps, but otherwise as dull as watching food you just put into the oven turn warm.
The next day is a little more interesting. A big owl is perched in the high branches of a 70 foot maple tree, checking out the surroundings, besides the cat we brought along with us. The owl is off quickly, gliding through the air on its way to hunting something offering a little less resistance than a cat. The owl is huge, as we discover.
But not nearly as huge as the groundhog we spot the next morning at our doorstep! This groundhog is easily the size of a medium sized dog, moves quickly and confidently, and nibbling on the first nuts that are beginning to fall from the trees and haven't been horded by the squirrels yet. Liebi suggests that everything in Tryon is supersized.
Not surprisingly, there are dozens of roadkills you will find on the roads around Tryon on any given day. Squirrels are the most notable victims, although here and there you will come across moles, small snakes, possums, or raccoons. This becomes even clearer whenever I run in the morning.
What I don't count on is crossing paths with a fully grown, six foot blacksnake waiting by the side of the road. Convinced this is first another roadkill, I jump a few feet upon discovering this long snake with the shiny skin and small head resting near the pavement. This snake is very much alive and in no particular hurry to cross the road. I watch the snake a little more before winging it for the house. The snake will have to choose wisely when to cross the road, I am thinking. A six foot snake is a long target for any vehicle.
The best is saved for last when Liebi heads home with her mother from a visit to nearby Hendersonville. After exiting the highway, there in the brush, unmistakably, they sight a black bear, easily five feet if it decided to stand. The bear sniffs out the air in front of it and finally crosses the exit ramp before disappearing into the woods. Nice to know that I as a morning runner am also sharing my grounds with black bears. One of these days, I might have to switch gears to sprinting, and even that might not be enough.
Am I surprised at these animal sightings? Absolutely not. Whoever is familiar with the area in Western Carolina, miles and miles of the densest, thickest forest will know that the brush was made for animals, big and small.
In Southern California, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and mountain lions are regularly sighted. In these parts it's groundhogs and black bears. I think we should count our blessings and cross our fingers that they remain there as long as we have woods. Nowhere in the world is that a given anymore.
Meet Tryon, North Carolina, a little sleepy town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, home to a few thousand people and, very likely, enough different species of animals to fill up an entire ark.
Coming back to Tryon, NC starts harmless enough. On our property, there are squirrel and chipmunk sightings, which is enough to cock an ear whenever a branch snaps, but otherwise as dull as watching food you just put into the oven turn warm.
The next day is a little more interesting. A big owl is perched in the high branches of a 70 foot maple tree, checking out the surroundings, besides the cat we brought along with us. The owl is off quickly, gliding through the air on its way to hunting something offering a little less resistance than a cat. The owl is huge, as we discover.
But not nearly as huge as the groundhog we spot the next morning at our doorstep! This groundhog is easily the size of a medium sized dog, moves quickly and confidently, and nibbling on the first nuts that are beginning to fall from the trees and haven't been horded by the squirrels yet. Liebi suggests that everything in Tryon is supersized.
Not surprisingly, there are dozens of roadkills you will find on the roads around Tryon on any given day. Squirrels are the most notable victims, although here and there you will come across moles, small snakes, possums, or raccoons. This becomes even clearer whenever I run in the morning.
What I don't count on is crossing paths with a fully grown, six foot blacksnake waiting by the side of the road. Convinced this is first another roadkill, I jump a few feet upon discovering this long snake with the shiny skin and small head resting near the pavement. This snake is very much alive and in no particular hurry to cross the road. I watch the snake a little more before winging it for the house. The snake will have to choose wisely when to cross the road, I am thinking. A six foot snake is a long target for any vehicle.
The best is saved for last when Liebi heads home with her mother from a visit to nearby Hendersonville. After exiting the highway, there in the brush, unmistakably, they sight a black bear, easily five feet if it decided to stand. The bear sniffs out the air in front of it and finally crosses the exit ramp before disappearing into the woods. Nice to know that I as a morning runner am also sharing my grounds with black bears. One of these days, I might have to switch gears to sprinting, and even that might not be enough.
Am I surprised at these animal sightings? Absolutely not. Whoever is familiar with the area in Western Carolina, miles and miles of the densest, thickest forest will know that the brush was made for animals, big and small.
In Southern California, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and mountain lions are regularly sighted. In these parts it's groundhogs and black bears. I think we should count our blessings and cross our fingers that they remain there as long as we have woods. Nowhere in the world is that a given anymore.
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