Things come in threes, didya ever notice that? Well, today, for me it was three wildlife sightings. City people might not have the chance to see creatures like this, even though they aren’t exotic. However, with the urban interface extending its fingers and snatching up more of Mother Nature’s holdings, it will become more prevalent for “city folk” to engage with the kind of wildlife that we enjoy around here fairly regularly.
I was heading into “town”, a 90-minute ride into the suburbs of Portland. I wasn’t more than a mile outside of my Fishhawk Lake community, when two adolescent deer gave me the “eye” while standing on the other side of Fishhawk Road.
They were settled into the landscape somewhat and not easily spotted.
However, when you live in the country (like Fishhawk Lake and the surrounding areas), you get used to having a sixth sense about creatures alongside the road and I immediately saw them, even though their colors match the brownish summer grasses. They stood by and watched me as I slowly passed. I then beeped my horn, because that’s supposed to help jar them out of their trance and hopefully cause them to retreat. Nope, not this time. They just stood there, so I sent out a silent prayer that any car passing would not meet up with them.
Later on my way home, I got my second lucky view of wildlife along the roadside. There suddenly was a coyote pup with its big sideways ears protruding at a horizontal angle, and a long skinny torso with gangly legs, standing at the ready to zip across the highway I was traveling on. Thank GOD it chose to escape into the underbrush as I gave it a wide berth, slowing and drifting into the other lane. I swear I almost saw it mentally go “Oh S__t!!" and change directions! This is the first time I’ve seen one so young, puppy-like, but wildish at the same time. It was a sweet moment!
My third encounter came about 15 miles later. I saw movement in the middle the road, but the trees were casting late afternoon shadows across the road so I slowed way down, because I knew it was something, but not sure what. As I inched closer, I saw a Mama raccoon sitting upright on her haunches with two babies hovering close by. I am sure she was positioned like that to scare away whatever enemy this was that was coming at them. I came to a stop and the babies scampered off into the grasses in the sort of hobby- horse way that raccoons move, while she lumbered close behind. Ahhh…sometimes the things that come in threes are really quite a blessing!
Sorry to say I wasn’t quick enough to get photos, especially while driving country roads, but each moment was treasured and by sharing it with you, maybe you can get a sense of what these small moments in life can bring to each of us, if we just keep our eyes and senses open. (Not to mention how happy I was that all of them went on their way quite safely).
I did get a picture of the full moon, to round out my day with my world and all it has to offer if we take the time to view it with eyes wide open.
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