Close Encounters of the Wildlife Kind

Twice this week I have stumbled upon local wildlife that allowed me to blunder in close without bolting.

The first was this little guy. He greeted me one evening as I left my office...

We stood studying each other for a good minute, maybe more. Then I shooed him away. I didn't feel like spending my evening in a stare-down with a bunny. I was hungry and it was dinner time.

Then the next day I blundered within feet of this guy while checking on a trail construction project...

I stood and watched him for a few minutes. He even let me get a video on my phone (which I was going to post here but it takes way too long to upload). And not once did he drop the nut he was carrying.

All this stumbling to within feet of local wildlife makes me glad we don't have lions around here.