I lived for two years in or near the Bloomfields, and now we’ve been 25 years in Bath, and in those years I’ve spent a fair amount of time hiking, walking, or driving. So I’ve seen wildlife, and some of those encounters are worth remembering.

*Using binoculars to watch a herd of deer on Boughton Road near Bloomfield, I was delighted as a red fox arrived. He was minding his own business, and skirting the herd, but that wasn’t enough for one of the deer, which repeatedly lowered its head and rushed the fox… which was way too small to threaten a single deer, let alone a herd. The fox kept circling out farther in hopes of getting around, and the deer kept on blocking, until finally the fox trotted back where it came from, throwing its head over one shoulder to glare at the deer. I could see the fox’s mouth moving, but couldn’t catch what it was saying. Which was probably wasn’t printable anyway.

*On a trail through high brush at Ganondagan State Historic Site, we suddenly came upon a VERY young fawn. Instantly freezing, we rubbernecked around for the mother, which we knew would be close by. We quickly spotted her, looking worried as her little one stumbled toward us. All at once the fawn jerked to a halt, gave us a double-take, and lurched into the brush after mother, who led it quickly away.

*On a somewhat similar trail near Owego, I came upon a baby skunk. To my left was high brush. To my right was a lake. If I reversed course, I’d have to double back about half a mile. Where were the mother and the other offspring? Surely this little one would soon get off the trail?

Well, no. Did the babies spray? I didn’t THINK so, but I couldn’t remember for sure. Finally I retraced my steps a little, turned to face forward again, raced for the baby skunk, flew high over it, and hit the ground running. All ended well, for both of us.

*I was on the hill at the D.E.C. Twin Cedars site near Avon, watching waterfowl down in the lake, when a short-tailed weasel ambled out of high grass, strolled across the trail almost over the toe of my sneaker, and vanished into grass on the other side. (Might have been a least weasel. But the range doesn’t seem right.)

*I was narrating on a bus tour up Canandaigua’s Main Street when one of the out-of-state passengers asked if we had coyotes. Yes, I told her, but we won’t see any on this trip. Seconds later, as we crossed the train tracks, I glanced to my left and there stood a coyote, at 10 o’clock in the morning, looking things over like he was planning to buy the place.

*Watching birds at a pond off Mitchellsville Road in Steuben County, I saw a muskrat swim up to another muskrat on the shore. The two of them rubbed noses and kissed.

*Driving a dirt road near Buena Vista, we saw what we thought was a mastiff shuffling toward us. When it jerked its shocked head up, we saw that it was a yearling bear. The bear rushed off the road and started climbing a tree – a juvenile response, which together with the size and the season of the year convinced us that this was one of the previous year’s young, recently chased off by its mother and now on its own for the first time.

*Interesting though those tales may be, they don’t even mention woodchucks, bobcats, beavers, fishers, rabbits, squirrels, possum, or raccoons – maybe another time!