On Friday, I was rushing to get to work,
earlier than my usual start time. We were hosting a seminar for land
improvement contractors and serving breakfast. As I sped along a frosty and
hilly blacktop, I was looking out for deer - trying to avoid them and the
ensuing visit to the local body shop. It wasn't long before a flash of fur ran
across the road in front of me. The animal was moving so fast, that I didn't
even need to hit the brakes. This common Illinois
mammal wasn't a deer, but a coyote. These native carnivores belong to the dog
family and enjoy feasting on smaller mammals and even tasted a couple of my
coworker's chickens earlier in the week.
In my mad dash to get to on time, I
frequently view birds and mammals. Lately I've enjoyed seeing bald eagles
soaring above and perched in trees along the Hennepin Canal. Many of the animals I see as an adult, I
rarely or never saw as a child, even though we lived on a farm and had plenty
of countryside for wildlife to roam. Whether I see a pesky coyote that may be
bothersome to farmers raising livestock, or a majestic bald eagle, I am glad to
have the opportunity to view these animals and even happier that my daughters
can see them too. On the way home from
visiting our family this weekend, we spotted at least ten deer grazing n one
field. My daughters were amazed. In my youth, it was unusual to see just one
deer at a time.
As children spend more and more time
learning and entertaining themselves with electronic devices, getting kids
outdoors is even more important. Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books are
intended to be read and used outdoors to teach readers about nature. I am very excited that my fourth book in the
series, Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve, is almost complete and
will be released in the next few weeks. This book is a little different from
the previous books, but it still contains realistic illustrations, colorful
photographs, and a fun and educational storyline that will help children learn
different ways to conserve natural resources. Please stay tuned for details!
