I actually have seen a few wild animals, though not because I’m particularly adventurous. I live in a big city, but sometimes people here stumble on bears while in the park, or a bear will enter their yard. One of the most memorable moments occurred when I was walking with a friend in a wooded area next to city buildings. Everything felt normal until we crossed school grounds on a Saturday and noticed a furry creature on all fours and decided it wasn’t a student. It still felt surreal—like the bear had shown up to audit a class. Other people were around, and all of us backed away and put as much distance as possible between the bear and us. I took a picture but the bear is so small (at a distance) that it’s not worth sharing. (Blog photo is a re-creation of what happened.)
Another friend of mine had an even more intense encounter: she saw bison weaving through stopped traffic in Yellowstone National Park. As impressive as bison are, they can be terrifying up close. They’re huge, unpredictable, and strong enough to wreck a car without much effort. In situations like that, there’s really nothing you can do except sit in your car and wait until the procession passes.
Those experiences remind me that wild animals, while fascinating, are most safely appreciated from afar.
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