Author’s photo of high forest trail view in the Columbia Gorge

Are There Wild Scary Creatures Lurking in This Forest?

Reciprocal November Nature prompt: “Discovering wildlife wonders”

Joyce Nielsen
Published in
7 min readNov 12, 2023

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The picture shows an isolated trail in the Columbia Gorge of Oregon. It was my favorite place to go for respite from the hustle and bustle of the Portland area. Look at the thick forested area down below. I often met deer, chipmunks, and bear disturbance. This is a territory for experienced hikers. Many novices tend to get lost.

Most of us live in cities where squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, rabbits, and opossoms are common. You may even see an occasional deer in ravines.

Author’s photo of raccoon hiding in her backyard.

But to come upon our magnificent mammals, you have to venture into a deep forest environment. You will never forget the encounter. They tend to be elusive and stay far away from humans. Never make them feel threatened, simply observe, calm and quiet.

Author’s photo of moose walking in forest near a trail in Canada.

There is no activity I enjoy more than to hike in a forest where few dare to roam. They are not easy to access. You…

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Joyce Nielsen

I write on all aspects found in Nature. I hope to inspire with tales of adventure and my life experience. You can email me here: nimbledoe2@gmail.com.