We’ve had quite the opportunity to commune with nature on this trip.  We’ve seen free range cattle and horses.  We were 20 minutes into Yellowstone before we encountered 2 black bears and a grizzly bear.  Yep.  All in the same field.  About a half mile away from the car.  I knew I couldn’t outrun the bears.  But I looked around to see which small children the bears might catch before me…

We’ve seen elk.  Lots of elk.  Including an absolutely huge buck with an incredible rack of antlers, unconcerned by humans, leisurely scratching his antlers on a tree.

And we’ve seen buffalo.  More than I could begin to count.  Many in the parks.  But many free-ranging.  It’s the most breath-taking sight to see hundred of these majestic animals gazing in a field.  Because they are so docile in the field, in spite of all the warnings, people mistake them for gentle animals.  But they are not.  They weight several thousand pounds and will charge.  At the resort where we stayed in the Grand Tetons the staff relayed news of a recent tragedy.  A foreign couple with a 4 year old child decided it would make a great picture to put the child on the back of a buffalo.  Not such a good idea. The child was shaken off and trampled. The sad result of people who just won’t take the warnings seriously.

We’ve seen deer, antelopes, mosquitoes the size of birds, and hawks.  Near our cabin there was a sign regarding “Active Grizzly Bear Area” which certainly gave me pause when I left the cabin at 5 am to do laundry.

But the one warning sign that has given me chills is the “Beware of snakes” sign.  And it has followed me for days.  I haven’t seen one yet.  I hope I don’t.  Because I hate snakes.  If I have a choice between a bear and a snake, I’ll take the bear any day of the week.