With a Little Help From Our Friends

Another day in the Catskills:

There has been a fair balance of big and little on this adventure. Mountains and rivers, wildflowers and butterflies. Birthdays and unexpected hugs, quiet mornings and good tea. Dreams and nightmares, joy and heartache.

I include my encounter with this porcupine among both.

This morning I found this precious one on the side of a two lane highway. I have never seen a porcupine before, so I took the opportunity to look at its body.

There was no obvious damage, which somehow made this unnecessary and unnatural death feel even more sad.

Its fur was wiry and course. The quills were formidable. So were the claws, which are meant to help it climb trees. The face was dear and wise, even in death.

Round of body and skull, this was a compact, sturdy, healthy looking animal. I know porcupine ears are small and hidden by their fur, but I couldn’t see them at all. And its little black eyes were closed forever.

I have no idea of the age or gender of this creature. In fact it is almost impossible to tell the sex of a porcupine without dna testing and I don’t have that kind of lab equipment .

It was these little paws that really got me, though; they looked like a friend’s hand waiting to be held.

Slow down while moving through this world we share with tender beings.

Peace ✌️

#onthebearpath