Life today moves so fast, even on the road as people are in a hurry to get to point A to point B. But if we are to slow down and allow enough time to get to our destination, we might just get a chance to view a wild animal running close to the road or flying above us.

When I was in Alaska, I seen many wild animals. Driving along the Inlet, there would be mountain goats and doll sheep on one side of the highway on the side of the mountains, and whales swimming in the waters along the other side of the highway. Waking up and looking out of the window early morning, only to find a moose grazing in the front yard. A spectacular sight!

However, being green behind the ears and the lack of understanding of these animals and the danger they could have, I always wanted to see a grizzly bear. Now that I’m older and understand clearly what they could do if paths crossed, the desire to stand face-to-face with any types of bear is not something I would want to do. They are beautiful creatures of the wild, fast, and massively strong in which it is impossible to out-run one of these animals. They have a strong sense of smell, very good eye-sight, and sensitive to what is around them. I know better today and going into the wild, and an individual needs to carry some sort of protection. Study and learn the behavior of the animals in the area, and always carry bear spray and/or a firearm with you. Well, I never got to fulfill this dream, and that is okay!

In the lower forty-eight, driving on the ridge of the Quachita Mountains between Oklahoma and Arkansas, I had to use the bathroom. With no man-made facilities, I went out in nature to take care of business. A little nervous as it was and still is bear country, I didn’t mess around in getting back to the car. It was a warm beautiful day, and the brush was heavy between the trees. Swiftly moving to get in the car, a black bear crossed the road about 100 feet in front of me. Boy, was I glad to be back at the car! He was a sight to see! Free in the wild!

Nature is all around us if we take the time to see it. Wild animals are among us large and small. They live in our yard, take shelter in our home if not careful, and other places. They roam in the night, and may awake us with a horrible smell that comes from a skunk. No matter what animal, we can always enjoy them from a distance.