Animal Tales, Blog | May 28, 2010
Four feet above my head in my writing cabin, on the top sill of the window, a thrush has built her nest in an impossibly tiny shelf. I know she is there. I see her flying up to complete another artistic piece in the nest; I see her flying up after getting herself a bite to eat before she sits again on her precious new life forming inside her eggs. Her mate is always around on one tree or another guarding, chasing away the egg- stealing magpies, aggressive and twice his size. But it is interesting – unless I physically see her she is out of my mind, even as she sits, life growing, 4 feet from me. It is a human and cultural phenomena that things are only “real” and “in existence’ (for us, not for animals) when they are in front of our eyes. There is a burgeoning new field of subtle energies, those not immediately detected by our five senses. A field developing as society slowly digests the implications of Einstein’s work and the continuing new discoveries in physics about how we are all connected; how we are all basically energy beings; energy slowed down enough that it becomes solid, at least to appearances. And I think about sitting in my cabin working on sensing the intense excitement and wondrous life energy that is going just above my head; tuning to it without being able to physically”see” it. It is a richly rewarding effort with the hint of the possibility of infinite expansion of feeling and learning the magic that is around us in nature.
Animal Tales | May 13, 2010
I sit in the warm April sun listening to the magpies, killdeer, robins, ravens, sparrows, blackbirds – to the chittering of the ground squirrels as they run about looking for the very, very, very juiciest blades of young grass. To the call of the geese and sandhill cranes in the distance. To the lazy buzz of flies.
Flies! Food for the birds! Last week there was a blizzard and we worried how they would live in a snow-covered landscape.
Today they fill their bellies as they flit about preparing nests, putting on weight for the siege to come of outrageously demanding babies.
Animal Tales, Blog | May 12, 2010
The ground squirrels are out!
They suddenly moved in about three years ago and apparently found it to their liking because we have several colonies now. There goes all hope of a garden – either they eat the plants above the ground or cut the roots below.
But they are so vibrantly enjoying life!! A fair exchange. I get the pleasure of seeing dozens of plump, furry, effervescent little creatures scurrying about all worked up about Sun! Warmth! Soft Earth for Digging! Fresh Juicy Grass! Babies!
They are only out for a few months before they go back underground in late summer and so far the hollyhocks and lavender have survived.
Perhaps there are more plants I can find that will resist the onslaught. But forget the lettuce …
Did you know that they have their own language?
Animal Tales, Bears, Wellness & Spirtuality | March 23, 2010
All winter we worried about Teton Totem and his severe back problem. How would he be? Would the long winter sleep aggravate it? What do we do with a nearly paralyzed 1000 pound grizzly bear?
We made him a special bed for his hibernation, lining his den with wood and then extra hay to make it softer and warmer and he could arrange it as he liked. With Penelope’s help with his back in the fall (see Bear Burrito, Blog November 2009) he was quite a bit better just before going to sleep for the winter but still we worried. What would the long period of inactivity do?
Teton emerged from his den recently – and he was using his hind legs! Not perfectly but the long sleep and stillness did him no harm. Not only was he walking, but he was sweet – sweeter than he had been in a long time. In fact there was an indescribably sweet and gentle look in his eyes. What a gift!! What a way to start spring!!
Animal Tales, Blog | March 15, 2010
At the pet store yesterday Lori the manager called me over — “Look, look at this!” There were two parrot cichlids in a tank swimming about in the lower left front corner looking rather strange because there was a whole tank in which to swim. After a few minutes, I saw a tiny, tiny little speck darting about in that corner — then another — then another. Lori said there were 30 of them. The babies were born just four days ago. She said at first they all stayed in a little depression in the gravel, the parents hovering over them and chasing away all the other fish in the tank. This stressed them so much that she removed all the fish except two placid suckers who spend their time glued to the back wall. Now, four days later, the babies were escaping the nest and darting about exploring, looking very excited with new life and the joys of having a physical body, oblivious to any danger. The parents would pick them up in their mouth and return them only to have others escape. The smaller parent repeatedly scoured the bottom for bits of food, picking up morsels, and expelling the food toward whichever babies it could find; attacking fish in the next tank through the glass, then scouring for more food. There was no way these tiny things could eat all the food the parents were blowing at them but they couldn’t help themselves — driven to shower the babies with food, to feed, feed, feed. Periodically in their attacking fits they saw those poor suckers out of the corner of their eyes and an unreasoned fury descended upon the suckers as they peacefully clung to the glass. They would hurriedly unattach themselves, move a few inches and try for peace again. The larger parent swam in circles over the empty nest looking overwhelmed and frazzled, occasionally rounding up a baby in its mouth and trying to bring it back where it could watch over it and keep it safe. The next day I came back to photograph the fish family and the parents had the beginnings of a pebble wall built up against the front of the tank in an attempt to protect the babies from the prying eyes of humans. A lot of work for little fish! Building walls, changing nests, darting, chasing, rounding up, feeding, attacking, trying to keep an eye on their babies and keep them safe…..they were a wreck.
The tribulations of parenthood are universal.
Animal Story, Animal Tales, Wolves | February 16, 2010
We brought gentle ancient Windsong into the cabin to ease her aching limbs from the cold. She likes it Quite well. She has yet to give any
indication that she is willing to leave. We take her out several times a day for exercise and sun but she makes it clear that she is ready
to return at any time. She races as fast as her wobbly back legs allow, directly to the cabin door. Not much doubt about her preference.
It took her a while to settle into, to believe, her good fortune. That it wasn’t going to be taken away. She was dazed and out of it when
we first brought her in, acting rather like a wolf with Alzheimer’s, going vaguely and woodenly wherever we gently physically directed her,
eyes vacant and uncomprehending. She had had that vagueness about her for about 6 months, so much so that she gave the impression
that she was going blind and deaf. We thought she would have only a month or so more to live, another reason we brought her in , to give
her comfort and care. But we were radically fooled. As the days and weeks rolled by she began to realize that she might be staying
and she allowed herself expand into that sense of trust and belief. This16 year old wolf, 112 years in human terms, began to regain her
youth! Rather than fading away she had somehow retapped into her life force. She became increasingly alert, her eyes bright and curious.
She was clearly not blind. And she was clearly not deaf. She had just disconnected.
Her energy level increased and she wallowed in the delights of the cabin, investigating smells and potential sources of food with proper
wolfly interest. Coming back in she stretches luxuriously on her soft bed, enjoying the floor heat as it seeps into her old bones.
We have created a monster – a wolf so obviously enjoying her new life that we will not have the heart to put her back out until late spring.
How can you give a creature a second life and then take it away? Now that she is in, it would be like putting a relative out on the ice.
The disappointment would kill her.
We brought gentle, ancient Windsong into the cabin to ease her aching limbs from the cold. She likes it quite well. She has yet to give any indication that she is willing to leave. We take her out several times a day for exercise and sun but she makes it clear that she is ready to return at any time. She races as fast as her wobbly back legs allow, directly to the cabin door. There isn’t much doubt as to her preference. It took her a while to settle in and believe her good fortune. That it wasn’t going to be taken away. She was dazed and out of it when we first brought her in, acting rather like a wolf with Alzheimer’s, going vaguely and woodenly wherever we gently, physically directed her, eyes vacant and uncomprehending. She had had that vagueness about her for about six months, so much so that she gave the impression that she was going blind and deaf. We thought she would have only a month or so more to live, another reason we brought her in, to give her comfort and care. But we were radically fooled. As the days and weeks rolled by, she began to realize that she might be staying and she allowed herself to expand into that 
sense of trust and belief. This 16-year-old wolf, 112 years in human terms, began to regain her youth! Rather than fading away she had somehow reconnected to her life force. She became increasingly alert, her eyes bright and curious. She was clearly not blind. And she was clearly not deaf. She had just disconnected. Her energy level increased and she wallowed in the delights of the cabin, investigating smells and potential sources of food with proper wolfly interest. Coming back in she stretches luxuriously on her soft bed, enjoying the floor heat as it seeps into her old bones. We have created a monster – a wolf so obviously enjoying her new life that we will not have the heart to put her back out until late spring. How can you give a creature a second life and then take it away? Now that she is in, it would be like putting a relative out on an iceberg. The disappointment would kill her. So we now have another wolf resident in the cabin.
Animal Tales, Blog, Children & Families, Retreats and Workshops, Wolves | February 16, 2010
Fortunately for us Windsong is so gentle that Cucumber, who long ago decided she was to be a permanent fixture in the cabin,
has accepted her presence ( after a few dominating growling sessions to assert her place and superiority). This is quite a statement
of not only her age but also the softness she has always projected.
It was this combination of age and innate gentleness that made us decide to invite Windsong to host our very first parent-child retreat
in the yurt, lending her wolf magic and energy to the event. On a splended winter day in January three sets of parents and their children
visited the coyotes and foxes and badger and wolves and buffalo and wild burros. When finished we all entered the warmth of the yurt for hot
chocolate, homemade animal cookies and storytelling around the woodburning stove. Then we brought in Windsong and the kids
were electrified. Tentatively at first they came over, their parents with camera in hand as the children made her aquaintance. Soon she was
surrounded by kids, covered by little hands as she stood there patiently allowing them to feel her, explore her. Two mothers, watching this,
were crying. It was quite something.
For information on our family retreats this summer visit the calendar on the website.
Fortunately for us, Windsong is so gentle that Cucumber, who long ago decided she was to be a permanent fixture
in the cabin, has accepted her presence (after a few dominating growling sessions to assert her place and superiority). This is quite a statement of not only her age but also the softness she has always projected. It was this combination of age and innate gentleness that made us decide to invite Windsong to host our very first parent-child retreat in the yurt, lending her wolf magic and energy to the event. On a splendid winter day in January, three sets of parents and their children visited the coyotes and foxes and badger and wolves and buffalo and wild burros. When finished we all entered the warmth of the yurt for hot chocolate, homemade animal cookies and storytelling around the wood-burning stove. Then we brought in Windsong and the kids were electrified. Tentatively at first they came over, their parents with camera in hand as the children made her acquaintance. Soon she was surrounded by kids, covered by little hands as she stood there patiently allowing them to feel her, explore her. Two mothers, watching this, were crying. It was quite something.
For information on our family retreats this summer, visit our calendar.
Animal Tales, Blog, Seen Thru New Eyes, Wolves | January 28, 2010
A wolf pair often moves in perfect unison. In one photo I took, the wolves are in full run, the left front paw of one in precisely the same position as the left front paw of the other. The first time I caught it in a photograph I thought I was brilliant, but since then realized it is a frequent form of communication. They hunt as one unit, in some wondrous form of exchange with one another. Stunning harmony. It is a beautiful thing to see. 
Animal Story, Animal Tales, Bears, Blog, about | January 26, 2010
He was found at a roadside zoo that was closing down, just a few weeks old. It was clear even then that he was a differently-abled bear. As we watched him play, sweetly, innocently, not too coordinated, not too quick on the draw, the name just came out – Humble Bumble. Life scares him. Anything new scares him. Without encouragement he would rock himself endlessly in a corner. But he trusts his mentor Boychuk the German Shepherd. It was Boychuk who gave him the courage to go to the Wildlife Garden and play. To see the care and affection with which he plays with Boychuk, holding back his strength, adds a new dimension to one’s perception of grizzly bears. Humble Bumble, is a bear of character.
Animal Story, Animal Tales, Blog, Coyotes | January 14, 2010
Willow the coyote was on her back screaming bloody murder as Streak stood over her growling mightily, touching not a hair on her body. But she certainly was making him feel powerful! It wouldn’t matter where we were on the ranch, we could hear those screams and picture exactly what was happening.
The drama started very early in their relationship. Willow had been rescued from a den at a golf course and we were taking care of her in our cabin. After a couple of weeks young Streak arrived. In spite of the fact that the cabin was already her territory and he was smaller and younger, when he approached her for the first time, she looked at him, paused a moment, flipped on her back and submitted. Male-female relations determined at that age? We only know what we observed.
When they were old enough, we moved them outside together. As they matured Streak dominated her more and more. She responded with more and more drama, shrieking as if she were being ripped apart, legs waving piteously in the air, Streak on his tiptoes standing astride her snarling ferociously. It all looked so very real. Kind visitors would worry.
One day I was standing there getting ready to feed them juicy green grapes. Willow was on her back waving and screaming. I was standing behind her head as she carried on. I accidently dropped a grape and it rolled past Willow’s left ear. Without missing a beat she turned her head, snapped up the grape and returned to her original position, continuing with her ear-piercing yelps. Streak, concentrating on his growling, never knew a thing.
How did she do it? She couldn’t even see the grape until it became level with the corner of her left eye, and it was rolling pretty fast. There was a nanosecond of opportunity between when she could have seen the movement, recognize it as food, roll her head to the left, and grab it. But to be able to notice it in the midst of such drama, focus on it, realize what it was, act on it while carrying on for Streak . . . I don’t think the emotions were running very high, truly. I don’t think there was fear and trembling. And to have the presence of mind to snap back into position as if nothing had happened . . . I wish I could have seen the look in her eye but I wasn’t in the right position. I would bet it was satisfaction, on many levels, one a bit unflattering to females of a certain type. But after witnessing that event, whenever I heard the cries from anywhere on the ranch, I would have a little thrill of appreciation for the sheer acting skill of it. Talent should always be appreciated.
Earthfire Experience with Bob Tondro
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