Alberta to New Brunswick and on to Prince Edward Island

ENCOUNTERS OF THE WILD KIND

 

by Julie V. Watson

 

I’ll never forget the evening Jack and I were tootling our way along the Blue Ridge Parkway in West Virginia.  When deer started running up the hill from below us, crossing the road and heading up the mountain we knew we had to pay attention, and cut the speed. They seemed to delight in running beside us before cutting in front to cross the road and continue uphill. Does with fawns, bucks, so close we could almost touch them.  Gave us a new respect for “sharing the road”

 

In Jasper, Alberta  we came over the knoll of a hill and face to face with a herd of big horn sheep. They were calmly foraging on the pavement, right in front of a huge tractor trailer and a line of traffic behind him.  We hauled over and whipped out the camera, just in time to get a shot of rumps as they fled up the gravel slop at the side of the highway.  A Park Ranger had fired a shot to clear the animals off the highway.  It was a heart stopping experience and one that brought home how closely bikers have to watch for wildlife in certain area.              

 

Elk, deer and even a wolf were sighted during our ride through Jasper National Park.  The elk were on the side of the road, and often ambled across seeking greener grass on the other side seeming perfectly confident that traffic would stop to clear their way.

 

In New Brunswick the concern is moose.  I’ll never forget one early morning when I was traveling to Moncton, from PEI, via the back roads.  A light mist was lingering, so I was taking my time.  Those senses that tell you to be cautious kicked in so I slowed down even more, thankful I had when a big bull moose ambled out of the woods and stopped in the middle of the road.  He swung his massive head around and gave me the look that said, “Just you stay where your at!”  I did.

 

There I sat planted down the hill, not moving a muscle when a cow (girl moose) and calf came out of the woods just behind him, ambled across the road and disappeared.  He stood his ground for a few more minutes, gave me one last look and disappeared himself. 

 

When my heart stopped pounding I started my engine and cautiously eased my way up the road and past the point where Mr. Moose had informed me that he ruled.

 

In our home province, wildlife is not quite as intimidating.  The biggest pest is the skunk, but even then damage and danger can be significant.  Of course one must also watch for dogs, coyotes and possibly foxes.  Foxes in the National Park for example, figure that tourists are there to feed and entertain them so many have lost their natural sense of caution.