It’s this last that bothers me. As companion hunters, they have learned how to herd rabbits into their jaws. Once or twice they’ve cornered and killed a raccoon. I can’t be sure, but I think that once they even killed one of the wild turkeys that have played such a powerful part in my own life.

With their tendency to ravage the wildlife, I’ve always considered them a negative impact on the local ecosystem. When they bring a rabbit back to the yard and sit down to share it, I admit that I sometimes have looked forward to the future, when their lives are lived and we no longer have dogs. Instead of torn and broken rabbits lying in the snow or grass, I imagine rabbits under our bird feeder, deer coming into the yard, and having to chase raccoons off the deck with a stick. In short, I imagine a healthier ecosystem where Rebecca and I are able to re-connect with the wildlife that our dogs spend their lives terrorizing.

Rethinking

Lately, we’ve been reading Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg. In the book, the author presents a convincing argument, citing many field ecologists’ work, that apex predators play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Interestingly, they do this not only by regulating the number of their prey, but perhaps more significantly, by creating a culture of ‘fear’ (I’d prefer to call it a culture of awareness or vigilance) among the prey. In other words, the prey’s behavior is altered when they are aware that predators share the forest with them. In Yellowstone, the scientists found that elk tend to avoid the edges of streams when wolves are present. Stream edges are places where elk can be easily trapped by wolves, and the elk know it. Without as many elk, the willows can grow, which creates healthy stream banks for many species. The result is that the riparian ecosystems have seen a powerful recovery since the wolves have been re-introduced.

Here at our own land, we’ve often noticed that our six acre plot seems strangely abundant when it comes to certain plant species. We have raspberries and black raspberries. In the spring, the trillium blooms, and our woods are home to bloodroot, soloman’s seal, hepatica, and jack-in-the-pulpit, all in abundance. Yet, during our hikes in the surrounding woodlands, we’ve found that these plants are much more difficult to come by. We haven’t seen trillium in any of the hundreds of acres that surround us, there are scant wild berries to be found in the 250 acres of woods and fields that the neighboring farmer lets us hike, and other plant species have become rare hidden gems scattered through forests that can sometimes feel a little empty.

We had never thought much of this until we began to read Stolzenburg’s book, and to consider that there might be a reason for the green abundance on our land. This is the place where our dogs most often roam, play, and hunt. Might Suka and Gryphon inspire a culture of vigilance among the prey species — the main browsers — in our ecosystem? They’ve never killed a deer (the photo above is of a deer that a hunter shot that later died of its wounds — the dogs dragged parts of it back home to enjoy), but they certainly keep the deer running. As for rabbits, the dogs play at least a small part in keeping the numbers down.

Now I find myself pondering something new. When the dogs are gone, perhaps we will indeed have the rabbits and deer coming back to our land. But what, I wonder, will happen to the bloodroot, the soloman’s seal, and the lovely, pink-tinged trillium?

A Wild Thought

This thinking has brought me full-circle back to my year of chasing wild turkeys. What might happen if (in addition to re-introducing apex predators), humans took up a new ’sport’ — Wild Running? Might not cross-country, on/off- trail, and ultra runners have some fun, connect with nature, and also do some ecological good if they began taking their running out into the wildlands? What if humans began chasing animals?

I know, it’s an odd proposal. Yet consider what it might do. The Wild Runner’s goal wouldn’t have to be to catching an animal. Indeed, if an animal turned out to be injured (as did one deer I began chasing last autumn), the runner could give up the chase and search for a healthy animal to pursue. The goal wouldn’t be to catch animals — only to give chase. The human runners would be fulfilling half the role of the apex predators — inspiring a culture of vigilance among the prey. If enough people in a given area took up the ’sport’, it might alter the prey’s behavior enough that some of the browse might return. With a return of the plants, native butterflies and songbirds might come back to the area. Insects and amphibians that were no longer supported in the ecosystem might find it suitable once again.

At the very least, it would get people out into the woods more. I can envision a culture of minimally-shod or barefoot runners enjoying long runs through the wild places, connecting with nature and bringing back stories of their adventures. At best, if such runners were set loose into areas that have suffered “trophic cascade” (a loss of numerous species that is triggered by the removal of apex predators), it might alter the browsers’ behavior enough to make at least a small difference in the health of various ecosystems throughout the world.

What do you say? Anyone want to join me on a Wild Run, chasing the deer or the elk?

Photo courtesy of Treasures of Oz

Ozaukee County is across the state from us on the shores of Lake Michigan, and we’ve never explored there ourselves. However, they have a lot of land that is set aside as natural areas, and Treasures of Oz is using some unique and creative ideas to get people out adventuring. On July 24th, 2010, participants will get ‘passports’ and a map that will guide them to a number of different natural areas in Ozaukee County, including bluffs, bogs, wetlands, prairies, and more. The tour will combine nature education with good, outdoor fun.  They have ideas to encourage people to bike or use efficient vehicles while visiting the sites, and are bringing together a diverse community of volunteers, nature experts, and even musicians to make the event a day to remember.

This is the sort of creative energy that can make a real difference in our relationship with our planet. Many people aren’t aware of all the opportunities for getting out in nature, many of which are right in our own communities. Our hope is that Treasures of Oz is not only wildly successful, but that it serves as a model for other communities as they explore ways to promote their natural areas and get people out of the house and into the woods, deserts, prairies, mountains, and shores.

Way to go, Treasures of Oz!

Imagine our pleasant surprise when we visited one of our favorite blogs and discovered that they had just featured our Wild About Nature blog on their site! Nature For Kids is devoted to inspiring families and children to get out into nature and have great adventures. Although we don’t have children ourselves yet, we have crafted our own nature writings to be child and family accessible, so we were truly honored to get the ’stamp of approval’ from Nature For Kids. Best of all, we weren’t the only blog featured– there are three other fantastic blogs that are concerned with getting kids out into the woods, fields, deserts, and rivers. A hearty ‘Thanks’ to Nature for Kids!

We are proud to have our article Flying Crows featured at I and the Bird #100.  This carnival was hosted at The Nature Blog Network, and features tons of great bird posts.  Be sure to pay a visit!

This last was fascinating, as they showed us many pictures of the summer blooms.  We were introduced to leadplant, wild quinine, and white liatrus, among others. They took us to see the marvelous Storybook Oak . . .

. . . and out on their deck, we saw this bright little creature, who we believe is Ctenucha virginica, which eventually becomes a moth with a striking blue body and grey wings.

Interestingly enough, we met our new friends through our nature writing – they had seen one of Kenton’s articles in the local newspaper and invited us over.  It’s so wonderful to be meeting new people who have such a passion for nature.  They’ve invited us to come up anytime, and we can’t wait to watch the various habitats that exist on their acreage flow through the cycle of the seasons.  Rumors of a bear make things even more exciting!

Since we own only a few acres ourselves, it is a great blessing when people invite us to explore larger areas.  To all of you who do own acreage and have shared its gifts with those who have a keen interest in nature, here is a heartfelt ‘thank you’.

Nick at Biological Ramblings has put together a fabulous edition of I and the Bird, outlining every single species represented.  We learned some great things about an enormous variety of birds.

We’re also proud to have our post Bluebirds Pecking at Mirrors featured therein!

There is an amazing collection of articles at the Festival of the Trees #34, hosted this time around at one of our favorite blogs — Seabrooke’s The Marvelous in Nature.  There you can learn about treehouses, read poetry, and discover what might be the coolest place on Earth — Socotra Island.  We’re also proud to have our taste-tests of three conifer teas as part of the fun. We’ve only just begun to explore all the posts in the Festival — we encourage you to visit and check out the offerings as well!

We recently read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, and he made powerful arguments for the importance of nature in education, and emphasized the part nature plays in our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.  We fervently agree with his message, and are making major shifts in our lives so that we’re better able to share our passion for the natural world through our writing and photography.

Mike, Wren, Nathan, and John (the team at the Nature Blog Network) are setting a powerful example. We’re honored to become a part of the Nature Blog Network, and to join all the rest of you in helping homo sapiens to redefine its role on Earth.  Simply by spreading awareness, we’re doing a great service to the animals, plants, and landscapes with whom we share this planet called ‘Home’.

Sincerely,

Kenton and Rebecca