New Mexico is a land of extremes…Wind and snow from October through May, heat to steal your breath away in June, glorious clouds in azure skies most days.
And the animals…! I still sit up and take notice when a roadrunner hurries in front of our car on our dirt-road drive towards town. For me, an animal sighting is always a gift.
Over the past two winters we’ve had elk sign on our property. Their hooves and scat are “over sized”, at least compared to the dainty deer. So I knew they were around. But not a glimpse of the animal, darn it!
When we bought our property I had imagined elk crossing in the snow would be a welcome, if not exactly a common sight. The former owner assured us we’d see them.
But thus far they’d only honored us with their prints and their poop. I’d become disenchanted.
Had I forgotten that this was the Land of Enchantment?
I got straightened out on this point a week ago. Because on our way back from town, close to where we turned onto our own road, two large female elk stood directly in our path.
Unlike the skittish deer, they regally and slowly moved off the road as we approached. They were disdainful of our puny little Toyota. “We have better things to do,” they seemed to say.
I was thrilled. I “snapshot” a mental image picture, and wished I’d had my camera. But sometimes just that memory picture is good enough.
I’m pretty positive the elk have forgotten all about us. I doubt they would even think about writing a blog article that included the two humans gaping at them from a mud encrusted car.
But that “snapshot” I mentally took is still with me. By the way, the male elk photo you see is from Morguefile, by someone named LLMueller. I think it’s beautiful! But I cannot take the credit.
However, now that I know elk are at least neighbors, I’ll listen for their bugling in the Fall. I’ll watch for babies in the spring and I’ll scan the land for shed antlers. Maybe I’ll get lucky! And maybe next time I can take my own photo.
Or maybe my mental “snapshot” will have to do. After all, I’ve seen elk herd elsewhere in New Mexico. But in my “almost” backyard? Now that is something special.
Do you have a favorite animal sighting in your neighborhood, or somewhere that you’ve traveled? I’d love to hear about it!