Finally Some Wildlife

Forest Lake is an man-made reservoir controlled by a dam, which is controlled by the power company, and downstream from the dam is a series of waterfalls that are marginally interesting. Forest Lake itself is somewhat bleak. The water level changes and it seems to be bereft of any life outside of snails. We don't see fish, we don't see animal tracks, and the coolest animal we have ever seen there were swans who flew in and then left. Despite the lush forest surrounding the water, it's dead silent out there and not very natural-feeling. I begged to leave to avoid the feeling of depression that was overcoming me. As we drove down the desolate dirt road to get back to the main road, I noticed something sauntering slowly across the road ahead of us.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I spotted a real, live porcupine! He was so slow. He waddled across the street and through the nearby brush until B.E. jumped out of the car to get a closer look. This cute little guy ambled up a nearby tree, slightly faster climbing than he was walking, and that was still pretty slow.

HOW CUTE IS THIS?!


So, I fell in love with a porcupine today. How could I not? Look at the adorable face on that guy and all the junk in his trunk! Love! Love, love, love, love, love.

After visiting the falls, we headed back to the hotel room for a potty break, and on the way down the small road to the hotel, B.E. yelled, "Holy shit, that's a huge fucking bird!"

Indeed it was: it was an eagle!

From our vantage point, we were able to watch the eagle high in a pine tree eating a fish. At one point, he had the fish gripped in his talons and I could see entrails dangling down grossly, but he quickly ate it all up. Then he preened for a while and flew off to another tree a little further in the distance.

Forgive the blurry picture, but this is our eagle.


When we got into our hotel room, I am not kidding you, we could still see the eagle from our bedroom window.

WE. COULD SEE. AN EAGLE. FROM. OUR BEDROOM. WINDOW.

Dude. It doesn't get more awesome than that.

THEN!

Then we went to Wagner Falls, and as we were about to leave, I saw a huge bird land near the top of the falls. I yelled, crane! I was wrong, though. It was a great blue heron. He was fishing in the falls. HOW COOL IS THAT?!


So, FINALLY we are on the road to some wildlife memories. Man, I thought it was going to be all ducks and deer again this year. At the very least, it's ducks, deer, eagles, herons and PORCUPINES! With big, pokey butts!

*swoons*

Okay, I guess I love it up here again.