Coyote scare

During a break in the rain yesterday the kids and I visited a local nature park to wander around. We identified animal tracks in the interpretive center and then went on a little walk. We got lost and I couldn't understand the map that I had picked up, but I figured that we'd make it back to the main trail eventually, so we kept wandering. When we passed a sign that said "Educational Experience Ahead", I knew we were getting close. Mason ran on ahead, and when I came around the corner with Elise and Sammy I stopped dead in my tracks and my heart started racing: Through the brush about 15 feet in front of me was a coyote, and it wasn't running away. A million thoughts flashed through my head - Mason had just run by - where was he? Was he going to be safe? We were making lots of noise and yet there was still a wild animal mere feet away - what was wrong with it? Why wasn't it running away? If it attacked - what would I do? My adrenaline was pumping and I was about ready to attack it!

After standing stock still for a few seconds and seeing that the thing still wasn't moving, I took a step closer and started laughing hysterically (because, you know, that is what you do after a scare turns out this way) - it was a coyote skin! It had been placed so that it looked like it was walking through the forest, and it was very successful in conveying that image! Using my Sherlock Holmes-like stills I deduced that it was there as part of the "Educational Experience", and sure enough, as we walked further down the path we noticed a fake dragonfly in a tree, a picture of a skunk near the trail, etc., etc.

When I told Stephen about my heart-stopping experience later that evening he laughed and laughed - especially thinking of the scene of me attacking a coyote pelt - "It's all right, kids, this coyote was so scared that he ran away and left his skin. I took care of him all right! You're safe now."

What fun we have in nature!