Where the Wild Things Are

Did you guys ever read the book "Where the Wild Things Are" when you were young? I did, and it was one of my very favorite books growing up.

Sometimes, living out here in the woods, I feel like I could write a "wild things" book of my own. I've seen just about every wild creature imaginable out here, including...deer, elk, porcupine, bobcat, coyote, and black bear. All of which have either been on our property or in very close proximity. And I know that plenty of these guys are lurking in our forest, just behind the tree line, probably watching me, knowing that I can't see them. ;)

I even had a dream about this one time. I dreamt that I woke up one night and looked out our back window to find all sorts of animal shenanigans going on in our backyard. Like an animal block party.

For the most part, I'm comfortable co-existing (hopefully peacefully) with the creatures that I've listed here. My only exception to this feeling of ease would be related to one animal that I don't have listed here. And I'm not even gonna write its name, 'cause I don't want to put it out there in the universe. I've come to terms with the fact that they're around, but I'd much rather pretend to be ignorant. ;)

As comfortable as I am, I still try to keep a guard up, just in case. And it's always a little startling to walk out the front door in the morning and be greeted by seven pairs of eyeballs staring at me.

Thankfully, these seven sets of eyeballs belong to our resident elk herd! These gals are always welcome! They usually start showing up around September and generally come by to visit about once a month until right around the end of April. Usually, when they visit, they stay for about a week. It's getting to where I can tell when they're about to show up. Mostly, because my dogs can smell them a mile away. But sometimes, I just get to thinking, "Hmmm, I haven't seen those gals for awhile". And then bam! There they are, grazin' away.

Caspian loves when they visit. Even if I can't see them on dark mornings I know where they are in the field, 'cause Caspian will be on the other end of the pasture (next to wherever they are) instead of in his usual spot where he waits for his breakfast.

My neighbor told me he saw Caspian escorting them down the fence line one morning a couple of months ago. The elk were walking single file and Caspian was matching them step for step, nose in the air. Goofy Arab. ;) He probably thinks they're just silly lookin' horses. And they probably think, "what a weird colored elk!"

Anyway, as "wild" as it is around here, I always do love it when these girls stop by to visit. I don't even mind this next guy.

Just as long as his cousin Vinny stays far away. And that's all I'm gonna say about that.