Part of the attraction here is the variety of wildlife in Yarnell, Arizona. I truly enjoy watching animals and birds wander into the yard but recently the wild got a little personal.
Last week during the middle of the day movement in the yard caught my eye at the farthest water bowl maybe 30 feet away. Oh my, a coyote, in broad daylight. I quickly closed the front door so Sierra wouldn’t go outside and my movement caused the large coyote to run. No pic. I hear them almost every night yipping and howling. Night being the key word. But water is scarce and I keep several large bowls full.
A few days later word around town was about a skinny brown bear wandering our neighborhood. The woman who took these photos at 3pm lives on the block behind me. The fence belongs to my backyard neighbor. Not sure I want to see this wildlife in Yarnell as there isn’t enough natural food for them to eat.
I myself am not living a wild life here in Yarnell, no social butterfly, letting my hair down, or chasing around. Unless you consider a 30 mile drive to Wickenburg for groceries running around. I’m still wasting a lot of time on the computer, social media and labeling photos in March 2018 now.
I applied for a winter job at Joshua Tree National Park, a place I’ve thought about working for a while. I was referred to the Park Ranger jobs in California on the Inyo National Forest. Received an email asking if I had a preference for Lone Pine or Bishop where the Forest Service helps staff visitor centers. The Bishop site would also include the White Mountains Ancient Bristlecone Pine visitor center which offers more opportunities for interpretation and education and also my preference. This was not a job offer, yet.
About as wild as it got last week was National Selfie Day June 21st. Also would have been my mother’s 92nd birthday followed by dad’s 94th on the 24th. I’m lousy at selfies but decided to play.
I’m not always successful at photographing the wildlife. The multitude of various lizards tend to blend in with their surroundings as did the adorable three baby quail that dad watched over, and the deer bedded down in the shade in the wash.
Hummingbirds fly up to the doorway to let me know the feeder is empty.
A bird flew into the house and to the light of the kitchen window then to the other end of the house and window where Sierra chased and caught it. I quickly covered it and Sierra’s head with a towel, she dropped the bird and I took it outside where it flew away. Yea! There’s no screen door and I leave the door open most of the day for the airflow.
The wildest animal may be Sierra who will let me know with a stare and meow when she wants a treat or her food and water bowls are empty. Really, they never are but when they get low I think she worries.
My biggest wildlife worries are scorpions. Every night before going to bed I check for scorpions with the blacklight, on the floor, walls and ceiling, pulling back the covers all the way and carefully flipping pillows. Scorpions glow in the dark.
Sunday night, two hours after going to bed I woke up from something tickling my leg under the covers. Sure enough, a 1 ½” scorpion at the bottom of the bed between the sheets. My lower leg felt tingly. I grabbed the glass and cardboard bug catcher, trapped its unhappy glowing body, then threw it out the door. This quickly followed by a Benadryl and a bag of frozen peas on my leg. Couldn’t even see where it stung but there was a definite tingling and a tightness near the area. Rather freaked me out and I was almost prepared to go sleep in the 5th wheel if it hadn’t been midnight and a walk. I stayed up for about 30 minutes to make sure I didn’t have an allergic reaction. I just felt tired yet wasn’t sure I wanted to crawl back into the bed. But really, what’s the chances of there being two scorpions. Sierra let me sleep in until 7am. Guess I’ll survive although there was a numb and tingly patch on my leg all the next day and then it felt fine.
Actually, I may be the wildest one around here. Wild as in bat-shit crazy. Something needs to give soon. A decision about where I really live. Right now I am operating out of three places. Seems whatever I’m looking for is in a different place. I want to look up a bird, bird book is in the truckcamper while I’m in the house. Soon I may have to admit I really don’t have a summer job as a Park Ranger. In that case, I may become some of the wildlife in Yarnell.
You know the area around Lone Pine, Alabama Hills, Fossil Falls and would be a nice addition to their staff. But Bishop! gotta go – Bristle Cones, petroglyphs, a glacier and Schat’s Bakkery.
Fortunately scorpions are somewhat territorial, only one a night is still one too many.
I’d love to see and learn more about the Bishop area. Still crossing fingers.
Glad the scorpion thing wasn’t worse than it was. It would be interesting to put a trailcam in your yard to see what lurks at night.
I’ll bet there are all kinds more animals I never see. Been reports of bobcat and cougar.
The scorpion encounter would freak me out too. I didn’t know they glow in the dark. Glad you’re ok. Wishing you all the best with your job search. Eastern Sierras are so beautiful.
Thanks. I really am crossing fingers for the Bishop job.
Great post Gaelyn! You really do have some wildlife but scorpions in you bed-OH MY.That’s too much for me. So glad you knew what to do. I guess folks who live in the west have to. I don’t think I even have Benadryl in my house. I like both your selfies. Not boring like m8ne. The first is very creative and I love the outfit the wild woman is wearing. Feeling really sorry for that bear. Really hoping the job comes through.
Thanks. I actually sprayed Terro’s scorpion killer around the base of the bed but I’m still checking nightly. Crossing fingers for that job.
Still wishing you luck for the job, you would be great in that position. Scorpions in your bed….ack??!! Hope the scorpion killer works.
I’m hoping for no more scorpions.
The scorpion is scary…I didn’t know they glowed in the dark. All the rest of the birds and beasts are wonderful. Hope the JT job comes through
Scorpions are creepy. Not so easy to get into bed. Looking for a frame to get it up off the floor. Any job would be nice right now.
You live an amazing life! Being bat-shit crazy is good. It keeps away the damn tourists!!! 🙂
Thanks but it doesn’t seem very amazing right now.
Like all the other commenters, scorpions are not my thing at all. Having grown up in Arizona, Ive seen my share of those land lobsters. ASU used to have an anti-venom lab. My bio prof ran it and gave extra credit to students bringing in scorpions for milking their venom.
Wish you had some rain. Maybe the critters like that bear wouldnt be so skinny
I HATE scorpions. The Spider Pharm in Yarnell milks scorpions for anti-venom. SW needs a good monsoon season.