I recall the simplest of camping trips as a kid and then later in life with my kids and grandkids. We would take what we could carry and make a simple campsite alongside a local neighborhood creek.
This is a good way to introduce beginners to camping and wildlife.
One of the fascinating learning experiences from those trips was how much wildlife there is just that close by. Our neighborhood open spaces are surprisingly alive with wildlife.
Nighttime is when critters get serious about finding something to eat and finding mates, while narrowly escaping the maws of predators.
There have been times when we gave up the campsite and moved to another spot or went back home because as dusk eased into darkness, we discovered we had chosen a spot where it sounded like 10,000 frogs and other loud jumping friends lived.
The frogs remain mostly hidden and fairly quiet during the daytime, but in the evening, the cacophony of sounds can make sleep impossible.
With our creeks holding water again, I expect our frog populations to enjoy a comeback this year. That means they will be noisier than ever.
A frog party is truly wild life for wildlife. We would joke that it is no wonder so many critters choose to sleep during the day, because frogs and crickets keep them awake all night.
The seeming crescendo of wild voices and bodily noises belies the wary life they all lead.
There are moments when the din shuts down so fast it seems like a switch was flipped off. That is when I hold perfectly still with all senses on alert, just like the little critters do. It may well be a minor predator like a skunk, raccoon or possum, but it may well be a hunting party of coyotes.
The worst-case scenarios are cougar or bear, either of which could consider campers to be on the menu. That thought brings home the realization that we are closer than we usually think about to the flesh-ripping reality of everyday life for our wild critters.
Pick the right spot (which may be as much luck as knowing what we are doing), and the critters aren’t too noisy and a decent night sleep is possible. Beware the dawn, for that is a time when many critters are feeding on others.
Dawn is a time when predators who see best during the day are hoping to hunt down a night foraging critter who hasn’t quite made it home yet. For nighttime foragers, dawn is like last call at a bar/club and connections need to happen quickly.
An overnight campout at a local spot has always been a learning experience for me and my family. I think the critters learn from us, too, like when we don’t secure our snacks well enough, and a courageous critter gets to steal our Twinkies.
