African lion I hope to see later this year

National Wildlife Week passed a couple of weeks ago and I was feeling insanely jealous of people who are actually out in the wilderness studying wild animals. During the winter or early spring, I usually take a scuba trip to the tropics to commune with marine wildlife, but this year my writing schedule (three mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime) and my contracts as an editor and private investigator have kept me homebound. Plus, I’m saving all my pennies to go to Africa later this year. If you love wildlife, there’s absolutely no place on earth more exciting than the game parks of Africa, and I’ve been putting off this trip for years due to the lousy economy. But I can’t take it anymore; life is short and I’ve got to go!

For now, I have to remind myself that wildlife is everywhere. You just have to keep an eye out for it. Pay attention. A couple of months ago I was walking down my very urban street toward the network of neighborhood trails. I heard a snort, and there, on the little rocky island in the center of a neighborhood cul-de-sac, in front of a cluster of mailboxes, stood a magnificent buck with a very impressive rack of antlers. I know that deer troop down my street in the wee hours to munch on the tulips and roses and I often spot does and fawns trotting across the pavement, but I was astounded by the sight of this incredible male specimen. Even more astounding to me was the fact that many of my neighbors were outside, too, but they were chatting to each other and washing their cars, all completely oblivious to this incredible beast standing only yards away.

Male mule deer similar to the one I saw

The buck trotted toward the trail and I followed slowly, not wanting to antagonize a large fast animal wearing a lot of pointy weapons on his head. At last, a small boy  cruised into the cul-de-sac on his bicycle. He spotted the buck and stopped. Then the boy and I locked eyes, and he mouthed a silent “Wow!” It was a magical moment, just for the three of us–me, the boy, and the buck. Nobody else noticed.

I really enjoy the birds this time of year. The Anna’s hummingbirds are in full mating mode right now, flashing their irridescent crimson neck feathers at everything that moves. If you don’t know what I mean by ‘flashing,’ have a look at this amazing YouTube video. The rufous hummers have arrived now, too, and are engaged in high-speed territorial battles with the Annas. On the warmer nights I hear tree frogs and the hoots and cackles of great horned owls in the woods and wetlands behind me. By day, the musical trills of red-winged blackbirds ring through the air, Douglas squirrels scold my lazy cats just for lounging around on my deck, and dozens of tiny bushtits flock to a single suet cake like bees to a flower.

Wildlife is everywhere. To me, every wild creature is a miracle. But if you want to see miracles, you’ve got to pay attention.