06.15.2014 One Red Eft out of many

How do we know what carnage we wreak when we walk in the woods?  Obviously, I am not going to sit at home or walk only on pavement all the time…and even then there is the odd insect that you don’t see and squash the little bugger.  But how often do you contemplate where you are walking while in the woods or meadows?  There is a lot going on out there that is unseen.  Aside from the insects and other small creatures, there are innumerable plants that, in the Spring, are just little buds until a big clod like me steps on one and crushes it.  I wonder how many lady’s slippers have met their demise with a KEEN imprint on them.  I guess we just do our best.  And while looking out for the smaller majority, we are sometimes fortunate to avoid other hazards.  After all, we all know what bears do in the woods.

Yesterday I visited Briggs Brook in Quabbin, Gate 14, I am pretty sure (it is not marked as a gate in reality or on my Quabbin map), and literally had to watch every step I took for fear of leaving a bit of crushed orange.  There were so many to be seen…hopefully… for the entire length of the hike.  Most stay very still so if you see one it is easy to avoid.  Getting eye to eye is a challenge.  Both for approaching one and for getting down.  This was with the camera on the ground and still just a bit high.

Going back to walking in the woods, the entire floor is covered with last year’s fallen leaves.  When one of these guys pops out you can tell that some have to have met their demise under a footstep.The thing is, you can crush something unseen just walking on your lawn.  I try my best to not.