We were driving back from Lyndi's Parents along the country road at dusk. A doe and fawn darted onto the road. I hit the brakes, the car came to a sudden stop as did the doe, but her fawn passed inches in front of the bonnet. Whoa that was close...... if the doe hadn't stopped..... if the car hadn't slowed in time.... if we had been a second faster....... it could have all been different.
On the way out of Yellowstone last night we got a stark lesson on the possibilities. A car front crushed, two bewildered people staring at the carnage and a massive bison glassy eyed, slowly dying on the side of the road.
Road kill in Wyoming can be fatal to all concerned. The animals are big and fast, a decent match even for the largest American cars. Dawn and Dusk the most dangerous. Its harder to see them and paradoxically they are the most active.
The wildlife in Wyoming is abundant and big game is ever present, we see antelope and deer all the time. If you climb into the mountains and especially Yellowstone there are elk, moose, coyote, wolves, buffalo and of course bears! Occasionally you see them down low as they move to other feeding grounds.
Smaller animals are also present, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoon, skunk, rabbits and a multitude of birds most of which I cant tell you what they are. And we cant forget about the snakes..... fortunately we haven't come across many of them.
Half an hour northeast is the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Reserve which is home to a large herds of Spanish horses. Beautiful to behold.
Being a farming community there are also all the farm animals, chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, horses, and a surprising number of Lamas, who despite the 30+ heat never get shorn.
It is a pleasant regular treat to see such creatures. They are a good reminder that we don't own this place - but we can live side by side, sometimes work together and even appreciate each other..... at least until hunting season.
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| Elk grazing at dusk. |
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