Tuesday, August 24, 2011

Just a few days back, I blogged about a darling little fruit bat that was hanging out on our property.  Since then, I’ve come across more interesting wildlife—the kind most don’t see outside a zoo.

I’m fortunate enough to live right at the base of a gorgeous mountain that I run daily.  I’m so close to it that I walk out my front door and run to the base of the mountain.  When I’m done, I run home.  Though I live this close to the mountain, the local wildlife seems to understand that they’re better off if they remain up on the mountain rather than come down and frequent the residents’ properties.  Well…that’s most often the case, but there are times….

Anyhow, since my bat sighting, I’ve kept my eyes opened while on my mountain and have come across tarantulas—lots and lots of the hairy little buggers who move with such creepy unsynchronized leg movement as to almost be enticing.  In addition, I’ve had the occasion to encounter a Western Diamondback rattlesnake.  I’ve blogged about them before and how testy they are by nature.  This one was no different.  The moment it saw me and sensed my dog, it accordianed up on itself and paused, trying to decide if it should strike or reverse its direction and make a hasty retreat.  Meanwhile, my dog and I remained still, allowing the snake the chance to see we posed no threat to it.  Long moments passed before the snake doubled back on itself and scurried away, its rattle sounding is displeasure with us.

By now, I’m sure a good number of you are wondering, for the hundredth time, where the heck I live that I encounter such wildlife on such a regular basis.  Allow me to enlighten one and all.  I live in a classified rural area where we’re lucky enough to be able to co-mingle with nature, all the while displaying the proper amount of respect necessary for our relationship to work out. 

For me, coming across all the wildlife I do up close and oh so personal is a thrill.  For others, I’ve no doubt they’d pack their belongings and head out the first chance they got.  But not me.  Ever since I can recall, I’ve been an animal lover.  Doesn’t matter what kind of animal we’re talking about, I tend to embrace them all.  Course, that doesn’t mean I’m going to hug a furry tarantula any time soon.  But I do maintain that I am living in their territory as their guest and need to always remember to respect them—first and foremost.  This mentality had no only managed to keep me out of trouble with wildlife over the years, but it’s afforded me the opportunity to appreciate them on a deeper level, one I might not have experienced if I’d packed my bags and headed out.