I’m big into critters, both domestic and wild. I’ll never forget the time that I sat across from a bobcat. I was bushwhacking (lost the trail) and came through a narrow band of willows growing along either side of the creek. On the other side of that creek was a bobcat. I stopped in my tracks and it didn’t run. Rather, it looked at me casually and walked toward the base of a tree. Amazed at my incredible fortune of witnessing such a majestic creature, I sat down, and a half-minute later so did the cat. And . . . we watched each other . . . for a good 10 minutes . . . merely 10 yards apart. The bobcat had a patience that I did not. After those minutes, imbued with calm and seeming acceptance, I arose to move closer. And then the cat also moved . . . away from me . . . slowly and deliberately. I don’t know how long we would have both sat there had I not felt compelled to move closer to that wild thing. I do know that the memory of that encounter will be with me forever.
Another encounter that I will never forget is that with a wolf spider. As you can see from the photo, this one was rather large. I spotted it crawling on the ground, along the length of the wall. I have no idea what possessed me to engage in some interaction with this critter, but possessed I was. I put my hand down in front of it. It quickly turned the other way. I put my other hand down, and it again changed course. After we did this dance a few more times – and I wasn’t bitten! – it apparently concluded that I was not going to eat it or harm it and it crawled into my palm . . . and up my arm, over my shoulder, and down my back. After some time of this spider crawling all over me I gently placed it back where I found it. Communing with nature is an incredible experience . . .
What close encounters of the wild kind do you have to share?