Sometimes I am compelled take pictures or video despite super low lighting. Watching the light change is one of the reasons I enjoy the Forest in the early morning and the potential for seeing one of the Forest's nocturnal critters is, on rare occasions, the icing on my cake.

Yesterday, I was blessed with one of those nocturnal critters – truly an amazing sight! It was 30 minutes before Sunrise and I had been walking for only 6 minutes when I spotted a shape with a color I'm not used to seeing, moving unlike any of my familiar Forest Friends. In the nearly 6 years I've been visiting this Forest, this was the second time I've seen one. The first time was about a month ago and that sight lasted only 10 seconds.

Skunks are unmistakable even in semi-darkness, since their black and white fur stands out against the golden dried grasses of the Oak Forest. They have no camouflage at all because they don't need any! Their natural predator is the Great Horned Owl, who has almost no ability to smell. The Hare I saw approaching decided keeping its distance was a better plan!

I love that magnificent tail! The way those 2 extra long tufts of white fur on each side wave like antennae delight me. The contrast of the clear white lines on its back is so different from the way the colors mix in the tail. I was stunned and thrilled at how close it came to me! Turns out that was because of its weak eyes. Since they depend on their sense of smell and hearing to detect danger and food, I guess this means I didn't smell strong enough for it to notice me! At least not until it got within a few feet of where I was standing!

As if this wasn't incredible enough, Skunk showed up again a few hours later! A friend joined me for the second half of my walk, and we were awestruck by our discovery of a tuft of Skunk tail. A few steps beyond that were a pile of Skunk fur, a huge Turkey Vulture feather, and a Skunk skull! The distinctive Skunk odor drifted lightly through the air.

We put on our Forest Sleuth hats to deduce when the Cycle of Life and Death had been playing out. Since Turkey Vultures are scavengers who help keep the Forest clean, the feather was evidence they had dropped in to do their job after the hunter had eaten its fill. The fur had obviously been freshly plucked but the skull looked as if it had been cleaned of edible bits and rolled in dirt quite some time before we discovered it. These items would not have remained undisturbed in the middle of this well-traveled trail because those who care for the park move corpses off trails to allow Nature to do its job and prevent humans from grave robbing. We didn't come up with any other answers, but we enjoyed seeing evidence of the Cycle of Life and Death.

I have no doubt that some think it odd or even disgusting that I enjoy seeing evidence of death. Part of the reason for my enjoyment is knowing that Life is always happening. It's the reason I also love seeing tracks – they are proof that one of my friends has walked the same trail as I do. On a deeper level, one of the things I have learned from my visits with my Forest Friends is that humanity's aversion to death and decay keeps us separated from Nature, other humans, and our very selves. It is a perceived and intentional separation that contributes to the perpetuation of disharmony and destruction on our planet. If we are to change our world in ways that improve the quality of life for All Living Things, we must find ways to become comfortable with the Cycle of Life and Death. There is nothing to fear about it, and we have everything to gain in doing so.

Skunk is an animal full of confidence, fearlessness, and self-assuredness. It can teach us to develop these qualities in ourselves. Even in death, Skunk's contrasting colors of black and white show us the Light cannot exist without the Dark, Life and Death are inextricably linked. When humans can learn to embrace Death as part of Life, we take a step toward a world of harmony for everyone. As usual, Wild Nature brought me the most beautifully appropriate teacher.

View Norma's Skunk video here.

~ Norma Springsteen