We spent a day working in the yard and couldn’t seem to go longer than an hour at a time before we needed to manage a small rescue.
Lance was getting down the hose when he accidentally dislodged a bat roosting underneath the hose hanger. Once she was on the ground with her wings spread, she couldn’t get airborne again, so I went inside for a soft dishtowel and a box. Wearing thick work gloves, I gently got her into the box, and we carried her up the mountain toward the pine grove. There was a bright blue jay feather in the middle of the trail where we stopped and lifted her out. We were both startled and thrilled to see her effortlessly take wing and sail off, weaving smoothly through the tall pines and green shadows.
The next up for rescue was a slender ringneck snake. The mild-mannered little Eastern ringnecks are our favorite snake, and we see them often on the mountain. This one we feared had been injured; when I picked her up, she moved her head in an odd manner, but we sent her off into the garden where there would be less danger of her being hit by a mower or weedeater.
We lost count of the salamanders we carried over to the woods or creeks. There’s been so much rain lately that they are everywhere, and it’s hard to dig, gather brush, or work in the yard without accidentally displacing one.
At the end of the day I gathered up some beautiful fir cones, the blue jay feather, and a zinnia to make a small offering by the seep for all the little ones, our sisters and brothers on the mountain, with wishes for their continued safety and good health. This is their home, too.
Loved the gentleness of this post.
Thank you, Pan. What a gift we enjoy, living in our mountains.