For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Hello to everyone on this sunny, warm spring day! Yes, I know. For some of you it’s fall, not spring. It is just so amazing that there are people from all over the world that are now part of Steve’s Country, and I thank you all for being here again today. Today is a holiday in most of this country, called Victoria Day, in honor of Queen Victoria of Britain. But generally today it just means this weekend is the official start of the summer season. Also the official start of the fishing season, and the official start of the tourist season.
But that’s not really what I want to talk about anyway. Today we will continue with one of my many adventures that I have enjoyed (or not). Ever gone for a walk/hike at night through the forest? It can actually be quite enjoyable. I used to participate in various bird studies and one such study included checking on the owl population. Now, owls are generally out during the day, although they can at times. This is breeding season and owls are most active at night then. So I got in my car and drove to a nice quiet country location. There was nothing around out there. It wasn’t even much of a road. I had never been to this spot before and thought it looked like a good place to find owls.
I discovered the easiest way to check on owls is to learn their calls. It didn’t take long and I managed to learn the calls of all our owls and I could then call them in nice and close. So, I left my car and off I went into the trees. The moon was shining, but it wasn’t a full moon. But I did have my flashlight too if needed. After about an hour I was successful in finding Barred owls, a great grey owl and a screech owl. Not bad. Then the batteries in my flashlight quit on me. Great. Way off who knows where and I can barely see.
Now I have learned that many animals, beside owls, like to be out at night. Such as skunks. Which I really didn’t want to surprise in the darkness. That can get messy. Also bears tend to wander around at night. Those are the two main ones to worry about I told myself. Other animals would be foxes, coyotes and wolves. But how often do you see one of those around here. Well, around where I was at the time. I wish I had paid more attention to the moon’s position as I came walking in, that would have helped going back to the car. At it was, everything started looking the same, a little moonlight and lots of shadows. Hmm, I headed in the direction I thought was correct. But I didn’t exactly walk in a straight line either. I was meandering all over the place.
That’s when I started getting that feeling again. Like I’m being watched. I stopped. Not a sound. I looked all over but could see nothing. Off I went again. But that feeling stayed with me. Then it sounded like a crunch that wasn’t me. I stopped. Nothing. I couldn’t see anything unusual. I hoped I was going in the right direction. Hey, looks like the road up ahead. But I couldn’t see my car. I stopped and looked around. This time I saw something move. Hard to tell the distance, but maybe 50 feet away. Couldn’t tell what it was. But the fact it kept stopping when I did made me a bit nervous.
Finally out on the road. My car was about 500 feet away, not bad really. I started walking toward the car. I stopped. Turned around. There was 2 wolves. One was sitting, the other standing. Okay. I started walking normally to my car. They followed. I stopped, so did they. One was maybe 30 feet away now. I kept going. The larger of the 2 was always standing. But finally back to the car. I got in as quickly as possible.
When I started the car, the wolves took off running. I didn’t figure they would hurt me, probably just curious. But you never know. Always best to be careful. Well, that’s all for now, thank you for joining me, I hope your day is great and God bless.
Steve and Muffin.
© 2019 Steve McLeod.
I fell in love with these animals, they are absolutely beautiful, and with your text it becomes like a nature movie …
Wonderful Steve🦋
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Thank you so very much Lillian for such kind words! Have a wonderful evening.😃😺
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So cool! What an amazing experience. You had me at owl calls, and then it just got better. 🙂
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Thanks so much for reading Julie! Glad you enjoyed it, have a great day!😃
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Happy Victoria Day!!:-)
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Thanks so much! Enjoy your day!😃
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beautiful birds
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Thank you so much, have a great day.
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😳😳 this was close! Sounds terrifying even though I’m wolves lover 🐺🐺🐺 but I won’t enjoy them if they were eating me 🤔🤔
Glad you could reach the car I mean no one knows how they might act
Make sure to not be deserted with wild animals and no light 😕
Baxter is always amazing 😊 and all the birds as well 👍
Hope the day was great despite everything 🌞
Have a great afternoon🐦🐺🌞
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It certainly did make me nervous, because I know wolves can be very unpredictable and when there are 2 together that often means they are out hunting. It was actually kind of stupid being so far from anything at night and no one knowing where I was. I do try to be more careful now but I still do take chances, and that’s not really a great idea. Thanks Huguette for enjoying my little adventure! I will be over to read soon, I see you have a new post today.😁😄🌙
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Oh yes you could have been the ripped Steve 🤯 I just love wolves but don’t know how they act, I know they’re hard to be tamed
my pleasure always, I enjoy your adventures 😊🐺🐺
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Not exactly the way I would like to go!😲They are beautiful animals, just so unpredictable. A lone wolf would rarely attack a human, but it just depends how hungry they are or if they are hurt.😬More adventures coming up!😄😁
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😁 sure not! Nobody wants to go this way certainly
Oh well we can’t predict if they’re hungry or not 🤔
Just take your precautions always and hope you’ll have a great day 🌞🌞😸
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Good morning Huguette, yes, I think now I have gained a little wisdom, not a lot though,😂 and would be more cautious now. Actually, I don’t think I would go off by myself anymore, unless I told someone what I was doing anyway. Another beautiful sunny day ahead🌞 and tomorrow it changes back to cold and rain. We do need the rain though so that part I don’t mind. Have a wonderful day Huguette.😃😺
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Great then 😊 little wisdom is not bad actually 😸
Glad it’s sunny day and even though I hate rain but I’m sure it’s needed as you said
Enjoy the sunny day today and hope it will be a great productive day 🌞🌞
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Several things to do today, the sunshine🌞 gives the energy to go so I’m ready to run and get things done! Hmm, possibility of a new poem there.🤔😂😁
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Great then off to work🌞🌞
Why not I’m sure you have many poems in your pocket 😸
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I wish I could just pull them out of my pocket! Actually once I have an idea then it’s not too hard. Sort of.😂
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😂😂😸
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Omg! That was probably a bit scary! They may be hungry! 😂😂😂 Or May be never saw human. 😄😄😄
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It certainly did make me nervous, often when there are 2 together it means they are hunting. And I was stupid for being so far out away from anything with no one knowing where I was. But now at least it gives me something to write about. I’m always taking chances which is something I’m trying not to do so much anymore. But…! Thanks for reading today, it’s much appreciated!😄😁
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Yeah, there is lesson for you for sure. 😊
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True, but learning it is the hard part!😁
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Always Steve 😄😄😄
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😂😂😹
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A great adventure!
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True, although it did make me a bit nervous at the time though! Wolves can be very unpredictable especially when in pairs, which often means they are hunting. Unfortunately I always liked taking chances. Still do I guess.😂🐺
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I understand!
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But these things do make for good adventures to write about!😄😸
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Yes!
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😁😂
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I love reading about your adventures. I’m not sure what I would do if I came across two wolves. Knowing the dog lover in me, I’d go “Look at the Husky!” Lol 😂 jk
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Wolves are a beautiful animal, but very unpredictable, especially when there is two, which usually means they are out hunting.🐺 I think they were more curious than anything, but you never know! Glad you enjoyed it, have a wonderful day!😄😸
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Great story…hope you had an awesome weekend.
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It certainly was a great weekend for sure. Thanks for reading Leola!🙂😸
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You’re welcome!!
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😃😺
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That would be my luck too…having the flashlight die 😦
I’m surprised there were only two of them as they usually are in packs. Maybe they smelled Muffin on you and was checking things out. Thankful nothing crazy happened.
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Our gray wolf normally only hunts in one or two, until the pups are old enough to join in. Gray wolves are not normally a pack animal, except as a family. The males get huge too, had a male on my deck a couple of times, massive animal! They can be quite curious though, but they are very unpredictable.
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