Mother Nature Joins Us on Our Walk

Boxing Day VisitorsAlmost home, we turn the cornerand skid to a sudden startled stop.Elk. Seven cows staring at usfrom the field beside our house.Neighbors reported sightings,we saw black-marble droppings,but here in the coastal forest,we thought we were in charge.The dog frozen, it’s up to me.Advance or retreat, act toughor cajole them like puppies?God, they keep staring at us.Seven hundred pounds times seven–Oh Lord, more leap out of the bushes.I raise my phone to take picturesto share if we get home alive.One of them crosses the roadto where the women with cats live.Run Millie, run Frosty! Hey Kathy!A glance. The scout rejoins the herd.It’s December. My bum knee aches.“Come on, Pup.” Timid steps,nervous chatter. They look alike,small heads, thick brown bodies.As we pass the mailboxes, the elkturn as one and whoosh throughan opening in the trees and vines.Could they have been afraid of us?--Sue Fagalde Lick, Dec. 26, 2022

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for reading Unleashed in Oregon. These elk were quite docile, but if elk feel threatened, they might charge. I used the zoom function on my camera to photograph them. Always give wild animals the right-of-way. https://www.travel-experience-live.com/elk-safety-how-safely-observe-wild-elk/

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