Riverbank

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My wild riverbank is filled with turtles, insects, and the occasional bloom of marsh marigolds or water lilies. During the day, it looks peaceful and serene, but once the sun goes down, the predators come out. Ducks, rabbits, and whatever small creature they can find become targets in the darkness.

Tim and I are often woken up in the middle of the night by the screeching sounds of an attack. It always sends him jumping out of bed and rushing to the window to check on our chickens and make sure they’re secure. Once he knows the chickens are safe, we usually realize the chaos is coming from the riverbank instead. Some attacks are over quickly, while others go on for what feels like forever, filled with screams and frantic sounds echoing through the night.

It’s a tough life out there in the wild.

We’ve had coyotes, minks, raccoons, skunks, and all kinds of wildlife running amok in our backyard, which feels especially wild considering we live right smack dab in the middle of town. My mom, who lives just a couple of streets over, even had a bobcat show up on her deck once!

Fortunately, when the sun comes up, everything looks peaceful again, without a trace of the night’s activity. I try to keep the greenery along the riverbank trimmed back, but lately wasps have taken up residency there, and I’m not eager to disturb their territory.

For now, the chickens remain safe, although it feels like only a matter of time before something tries again. Thankfully, Tim is always quick to jump up and investigate. I’m perfectly happy letting him handle battling wildlife in the middle of the night while I stay safely inside.

Our Friday night’s tranquility was interrupted by a riverbank attack and the prolonged echoes of agony from what sounded like a duck. We had been too tired to venture anywhere and were perfectly content slipping into pajamas and calling it an early night. We were sound asleep when the screams from the riverbank jolted us awake. It really puts into perspective how fortunate we are to be safe, warm, and secure within our home.

Sometimes Friday nights become their own kind of reset button… and sometimes a chance to count our blessings! 

“Home is the nicest word there is.” — Laura Ingalls Wilder