The Huletts Current

It always amazes me the local wildlife lives amongst us in quiet, surprising ways—slipping through backyards at dawn, nesting in shrubs, and sheltering all around us. Birds, rabbits, squirrels, and even shy deer or foxes often share the same spaces where we walk, garden, and play, usually without being noticed. When we slow down and pay attention, we start to see their small routines and signs of life everywhere, reminding us that we are all part of a larger, living world.

Recently when getting ready to mow, we noticed something unusually still in the grass near the lawn mower—a tiny fawn curled up and perfectly camouflaged. Its mother had tucked it there to stay hidden and quiet, and it didn’t move at all, trusting its natural instinct to remain unseen. It stayed for about two weeks, giving the mother space to return when it was safe at night. The moment was startling at first, but it turned into a gentle reminder to look carefully and treat wildlife with care. It recently left for a few days but now returns some evenings with its mother.

I got a pretty good picture of the fawn a few nights ago and the spotted lines on its coat give it a natural camouflage. You can see how it blends in with the leaves on the ground in the background.

This evening, in the rain, a large snapping turtle visited the yard for a very slow stroll. I tend to stay a few yards away when I see this beauty because it could bite a finger off, if you get too close.

Also, I recently had the privilege of seeing two bird couples fighting when one couple started building a new nest too close to an another couple’s already existing nest. While I didn’t get a picture, the sound of the fight was quite a ruckus you could tell both pairs were quite unhappy. The next day both nests were gone – probably because they both wanted their privacy.

In the end, the kindest thing we can do is give local wildlife the space to live their lives as nature intended. By watching from a distance, avoiding unnecessary contact, and keeping our routines from disrupting theirs, we help them stay safe and keep the balance of the place we all share. Sometimes respect looks like simply stepping back—letting them be wild, and letting our neighborhood remain a home for them too.