Sunday, February 07, 2010

Calling All Animal Trackers



Okay. We have all sorts of animal tracks in the snow around our house and I know that the tracks, above, are from rabbits.
But what about these, below?





It's almost like an animal hopped upon a pogo stick in a straight line. Hmmm... We do have deer, too, but do they walk in such a straight line? If you know which animal made these, let me know, ok?

I forgot to tell you that around 11:30 one morning while I sat in my room upstairs before the window, I saw a fox cross our street, then continue running across the field right before my eyes. A bushy brown-red old thing he was. Third time I've seen a fox out here--and since we have no chickens--I bear no ill will toward him.

Although, I do enjoy our wild rabbits and fear for their safety a bit. Speaking of which, one morning at 4:30 I stepped into our dark bathroom, looked out the nearly floor-to-ceiling window and saw a rabbit sitting in the snow and the moonlight only feet away. It was probably just 5 degrees out there in the darkness, but there he sat, peacefully. I stood at the window and watched him awhile, tapped the glass, but still he sat as a statue, as if enchanted by the early morning silence.

I know how he felt, I think. When I step out the back door at 5:30 a.m. to walk over the snow to the mailbox for the newspaper, always I notice the stillness, the silence. And then I take a deep gulp of cold, crisp air to refresh my lungs.

I do love country living.

8 comments:

  1. i love to watch how the animals enjoy whereever the Lord has planted them ... content ...

    as for what made those tracks - ? you'll have to get up at 4:30 to catch that one too!

    blessings on our week ahead ... leo is gearing up for the superbowl, and i'm gearing up for some reading and quiet time ... ahhhh

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  2. Those are some mighty odd tracks, Debra!

    I haven't a clue.

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  3. Bigfoot for sure!

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  4. Anonymous11:25 AM

    My very elderly dog got me up at 5:15 this morning, and instead of groaning, I thought of your words about the early morning peace and actually enjoyed the morning! I also got a lot done. Thanks
    nancyr

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  5. One legged deer? :-)

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  6. Loved the simplicity of the rabbit in the window...
    The tracks? No clue...
    Living in the country? Puts us a little closer to Heaven I think..

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  7. My friend who is an avid outdoorsman thinks it is a rabbit. Think about how when they jump they put all their paws together.

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  8. Wild canids (like foxes) are four legged mammals whose gaits are highly efficient and often look as if they are a single line. The only domesticated canid with a similar gate would be the Border Collie -- but even they don't have the same single-file foot print of foxes, coyotes and foxes.

    I would guess that's the footprint of a predatory canine -- very like mr. fox...

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