Wild Lives in Brightwood

 I find it interesting that some wild animals can treat you as a friend once they get used to you being around and presenting no threat to them.  Today when I was watching a turtle digging in the mud at the junction of the large and the small ponds, a buck walked to me and tried to get my attention.  I almost screamed to warn him not to step on the turtle.  He was like a dog, sniffing on me and was waiting for me to touch his head.  Because of the concern of deer ticks, I had to disappoint him.  I felt guilty and therefore walked with him for a bit.  When I came back to check on the turtle, she abandoned egg-laying and returned to the pond already.  I was unsure whether she was scared by the buck or was disappointed by me turning my attention away from her.


Frogs are usually quite sensitive.  They jump away or dive into the water when people are approaching.  Recently I found some frogs not minding me being around.  One of them crawled to the land and checked me out the other day.  This morning a frog sat like a statue to serve as my model for photography..  I guess they begin to trust me.

The red color in one of the turtle pictures was the reflection of a male cardinal.  The bird did not allow me a chance to take another picture by including him.

A doe greeted me at the parking lot when I was on my way out, by lifting a hind leg.  I wonder if it is deers' way of saluting.