| Run for Your Life |
Some 40 years ago I recall a wonderful discovery one evening. Sunset was close
and I was wandering in the back field on the farm. It is a magical time of sorts.
Daylight’s creatures settle in for the night, while nighttime’s creatures awaken to
begin their search for food.
It was not far from a damaged section of an old and rusty barb wire fence that I
approached. The old wooden posts at this point had grown dark and misshapen
from standing alone in the weather that attacks their strength each day. A regular
crossing point not only for myself, but a trained eye could see it was also a familiar
crossing for many travelers both day and night. Deep in the grass are tiny little
tunnels that field mice use regularly. Small shards of bark from the trees have
fallen to the ground carrying with them termites, grubs and assorted wood bugs
who make their homes in such places. Larger tunnels reveal the rabbits and
squirrels who pass there, even an occasional fox, be he red or gray, will jump
between the strands of wire as they stalk what ever may come this way.
It is rare in Indiana to see one of the most skillful and elusive hunters in our area.
The bobcat. I have seen them rarely, for it is their stealthy ways that make them so
successful. For an animal that weighs as much as 30 to 35 pounds you would think
they would be more noticeable. However they are primarily a night hunter and
more often an animal of opportunity. It is not uncommon for them to steal from
other hunters. Birds of prey quite often will kill a rabbit but be unable to haul it into
the air. This is a golden opportunity for the Bobcat, to harvest a quick and easy
meal from a fellow competitor.
During the winter months they often become daytime as well as nighttime hunters
because an empty stomach knows not the hour. Forgive me, it easy to go on about
nature’s creatures, and I have wandered from my story. This young boy had just
crossed the top strand of wire into the neighboring woods. The cool evening breeze
was from the north swaying the long wisps of grasses gently back and forth. An old
elm tree was not far from here and I would often climb into it for a rest while I
observed the passers by of this natural narrowing point in the fields and this man
made but failing barrier was erected.
A small hawk had taken refuge in the tree as well. Old friends we were by now, and
though he was not enthused with my visits, he no longer relocated himself to
another tree when I joined him. Perhaps we both desired the warmth this old tree
gathered each day within its great trunk only to release that heat in the coolness of
the evening. It wasn’t long and only because the wind was in my favor that dark
and slow movement came wondering up the fence row. Hidden within the shadows
and overgrowth that clung to the wire over the full length of this fence came this
lustful and stealthy predator.
Oh his eyes gleamed a green and his dark brown fur blended wonderfully against
the evening light – but I had him locked with my eyes and mind. If I would glance
away I surely would lose him as he stood quietly still. Perhaps something did not
feel right – he very well may have sensed my presence as he froze his movement
for the longest time. He scanned the tree and all areas around but he could not see
the threat he felt. The dark color of the elm’s old bark and my clothing blended
well. Nature herself could not have hidden me better for this moment. Slowly one
foot and then another as he stalked his way along the deep grass that had grown
still with the sunset.
Though his steps were short he covered the distance quickly. Never did I hear the
sound of his feet as they stepped along the way. No odor and hardly enough motion
that I could barely keep sight of him as darkness overcome my limited ability to
see.
I was so please I had fooled the bobcat for so long a period. Never did he sense my
presence or look at the great fork in the trunk where I was perched.
“Not so great a hunter are you!’, I thought. “Can’t even find a mere boy of 12,
someone 2 or 3 times your size and weight. You will not last long in these parts, you
old fool!”
With the greatest lunges the old bobcat pounced some few feet away from my elm
tree! Surely I was the fool and he had me in his sights. Bobcat dinner I would be!
How would my mother ever stop crying this evening. My breathing had stopped,
but my heart was slowly working its way out of my chest, so I closed my eyes
waiting for the surely painful final moment.
Crunching! I heard crunching! I opened my eyes and there beneath his paws lay a
rabbit. He was not stalking me! He had stalked his quarry right to my tree! This
rabbit who had the stupidity.. stupidity!!!, to get himself killed right here.
Even at 12 there have been lessons learned by one who has walked these fields as
often as I. Always with the element of surprise, nature will chose to run away
rather than stand and fight, even if the loss of a meal is at stake.
“Hello there!”, I said.
With speed I dare not try to compare the old bobcat was gone, possibly wondering
how I had fooled him so easily. Perhaps to the liking of my own self assuredness he
was thinking how stupid was “HE!” With a big smile I lowered myself from the tree
and made a quick getaway from my old elm tree friend. Surely it wouldn’t be long
before the bobcat would return to claim his prize and it would be best that I am not
present.
I had just crossed back over the barb wire when I heard a flutter in the air. Down to
the ground dropped the hawk who claimed his meal for the night. His small talons
grasped the meal and to the air he took. In a short tight circle he again settled in
our tree.
I ran the rest of the way home that evening. I was positive the bobcat would think I
had ran off with his meal and he would seek to reclaim it! There were moments I
was sure he was close behind so my feet carried me even faster along the way.
Mother wondered why I was so winded when I walked into the kitchen that night.
“Just in time for dinner.”, she said.
She smiled at me and rubbed my head telling me to go wash my hands and sit down.
It took a fair amount of time the next morning to clean the burrs and briar thorns
from my jeans. The is shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
Thank you my math teacher. I have proven this mathematical absolute on more
than on occasion… but none so quickly as I did this night!
by DWHolmes (copyright 2005)
and I was wandering in the back field on the farm. It is a magical time of sorts.
Daylight’s creatures settle in for the night, while nighttime’s creatures awaken to
begin their search for food.
It was not far from a damaged section of an old and rusty barb wire fence that I
approached. The old wooden posts at this point had grown dark and misshapen
from standing alone in the weather that attacks their strength each day. A regular
crossing point not only for myself, but a trained eye could see it was also a familiar
crossing for many travelers both day and night. Deep in the grass are tiny little
tunnels that field mice use regularly. Small shards of bark from the trees have
fallen to the ground carrying with them termites, grubs and assorted wood bugs
who make their homes in such places. Larger tunnels reveal the rabbits and
squirrels who pass there, even an occasional fox, be he red or gray, will jump
between the strands of wire as they stalk what ever may come this way.
It is rare in Indiana to see one of the most skillful and elusive hunters in our area.
The bobcat. I have seen them rarely, for it is their stealthy ways that make them so
successful. For an animal that weighs as much as 30 to 35 pounds you would think
they would be more noticeable. However they are primarily a night hunter and
more often an animal of opportunity. It is not uncommon for them to steal from
other hunters. Birds of prey quite often will kill a rabbit but be unable to haul it into
the air. This is a golden opportunity for the Bobcat, to harvest a quick and easy
meal from a fellow competitor.
During the winter months they often become daytime as well as nighttime hunters
because an empty stomach knows not the hour. Forgive me, it easy to go on about
nature’s creatures, and I have wandered from my story. This young boy had just
crossed the top strand of wire into the neighboring woods. The cool evening breeze
was from the north swaying the long wisps of grasses gently back and forth. An old
elm tree was not far from here and I would often climb into it for a rest while I
observed the passers by of this natural narrowing point in the fields and this man
made but failing barrier was erected.
A small hawk had taken refuge in the tree as well. Old friends we were by now, and
though he was not enthused with my visits, he no longer relocated himself to
another tree when I joined him. Perhaps we both desired the warmth this old tree
gathered each day within its great trunk only to release that heat in the coolness of
the evening. It wasn’t long and only because the wind was in my favor that dark
and slow movement came wondering up the fence row. Hidden within the shadows
and overgrowth that clung to the wire over the full length of this fence came this
lustful and stealthy predator.
Oh his eyes gleamed a green and his dark brown fur blended wonderfully against
the evening light – but I had him locked with my eyes and mind. If I would glance
away I surely would lose him as he stood quietly still. Perhaps something did not
feel right – he very well may have sensed my presence as he froze his movement
for the longest time. He scanned the tree and all areas around but he could not see
the threat he felt. The dark color of the elm’s old bark and my clothing blended
well. Nature herself could not have hidden me better for this moment. Slowly one
foot and then another as he stalked his way along the deep grass that had grown
still with the sunset.
Though his steps were short he covered the distance quickly. Never did I hear the
sound of his feet as they stepped along the way. No odor and hardly enough motion
that I could barely keep sight of him as darkness overcome my limited ability to
see.
I was so please I had fooled the bobcat for so long a period. Never did he sense my
presence or look at the great fork in the trunk where I was perched.
“Not so great a hunter are you!’, I thought. “Can’t even find a mere boy of 12,
someone 2 or 3 times your size and weight. You will not last long in these parts, you
old fool!”
With the greatest lunges the old bobcat pounced some few feet away from my elm
tree! Surely I was the fool and he had me in his sights. Bobcat dinner I would be!
How would my mother ever stop crying this evening. My breathing had stopped,
but my heart was slowly working its way out of my chest, so I closed my eyes
waiting for the surely painful final moment.
Crunching! I heard crunching! I opened my eyes and there beneath his paws lay a
rabbit. He was not stalking me! He had stalked his quarry right to my tree! This
rabbit who had the stupidity.. stupidity!!!, to get himself killed right here.
Even at 12 there have been lessons learned by one who has walked these fields as
often as I. Always with the element of surprise, nature will chose to run away
rather than stand and fight, even if the loss of a meal is at stake.
“Hello there!”, I said.
With speed I dare not try to compare the old bobcat was gone, possibly wondering
how I had fooled him so easily. Perhaps to the liking of my own self assuredness he
was thinking how stupid was “HE!” With a big smile I lowered myself from the tree
and made a quick getaway from my old elm tree friend. Surely it wouldn’t be long
before the bobcat would return to claim his prize and it would be best that I am not
present.
I had just crossed back over the barb wire when I heard a flutter in the air. Down to
the ground dropped the hawk who claimed his meal for the night. His small talons
grasped the meal and to the air he took. In a short tight circle he again settled in
our tree.
I ran the rest of the way home that evening. I was positive the bobcat would think I
had ran off with his meal and he would seek to reclaim it! There were moments I
was sure he was close behind so my feet carried me even faster along the way.
Mother wondered why I was so winded when I walked into the kitchen that night.
“Just in time for dinner.”, she said.
She smiled at me and rubbed my head telling me to go wash my hands and sit down.
It took a fair amount of time the next morning to clean the burrs and briar thorns
from my jeans. The is shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
Thank you my math teacher. I have proven this mathematical absolute on more
than on occasion… but none so quickly as I did this night!
by DWHolmes (copyright 2005)
