First Baptist Church of Herndon

Observing the Fauna

Linda Soller | Nov 30, 2015

It is hard to believe Thanksgiving has come and gone. Unless, of course, you look at the bare tree tops, and the dried leaves on the ground, and feel the chill in the air. One of the things I like about this time of year is watching the wildlife in my yard busy around and prepare for winter. Squirrels and chipmunks are always scurrying about, hiding food they will likely never find again. Birds queue up to the feeder to build their fat stores for the cold. Then there are the raccoons. We have two, sometimes three, who live close by. The two I see most frequently are not babies, but they don’t really look like full grown adults either. I call them Frick and Frack. At night you can hear them drop to the roof from one tree and walk across the house to another tree. Sometimes just after the sun sets they come up on the deck. The motion light comes on and I try to see them without giving away my approach. They calmly stroll from one side to the other then disappear over the edge, back to nature.

Last winter we had a raccoon who would sit on the roof at the edge of our skylight and peer in at us. If you pointed a flashlight up to the window you could see him lounging there, and you could hear him scratching at the side of the window. I thought it was pretty neat until later in the year, when the rains came, we found we had a leak. Our furry friend, not sure if it was Frick or Frack, had scraped some of the seal away from the edge of the window. I hope he got something tasty for his efforts and our aggravation. One night ants came through the gap, other times rain, either way it was unpleasant. We got even, we spent a lot of money to have it fixed, that will show him!

Despite the challenges presented by living in the woods as we do, I have to admit I love to observe the local fauna. Okay so the deer are getting a little tiring as they travel in herds through our yards eating all in sight. But on most days I am fascinated. I wish I could know what is going on in their little heads. Are they wondering why we humans stare at them, how rude! Are they thinking it is about time we learned what their favorite seeds are? Maybe they have gatherings to discuss a protest of the new front walk that played havoc with the chipmunk tunnels. I’m pretty sure they are wondering why God created such odd creatures who don’t seem to do anything except stare and sometimes chase them.

In a world full of turmoil, stress, and sadness there remains much to bring us joy. Hopefully you came away from your Thanksgiving feeling grateful and contented. Maybe like Frick and Frack you took a stroll on your deck or lounged looking through windows. Maybe like our feathered friends you stood in lines waiting for your turn, your reward, the perfect purchase, which probably beats one lousy sunflower seed.  Or maybe you are in the chipmunk and squirrel group, always busy, but struggling to remember what you were busy doing. Check out the nature around you. Enjoy the creatures God put on this earth. Learn from their industry, calmness, and order. Just please, don’t travel in herds eating all in sight.

Let the Holiday Season begin! :o)  Linda