A Stewardship Soap Opera
Although most humans are gone from the preserve, the few staff currently devoted to security and monitoring have had time to pay closer attention to the critters and plants that make up "the real" Wild Basin and we have been gaining deeper insight into their lives. Please forgive us this little bit of ethnocentrism and humor in sharing some of these goings on in the hottest new soap opera - "As The Preserve Turns".
We first join “Fang”, the toothache tree (just off trail behind the Visitor Center), who in a typical spring spends his weekdays being preyed upon by small children – eaten leaf by leaf in the name of education, numbing mouth after mouth. He is loved by many, but feels this behavior is a weird way to display affection. What does he do now, you ask? Well, let me tell you, he is one happy, happy tree! In the absence of his main predators (us), he now spends his days growing leaf after leaf across his previously bald branches. Impressive crown, Fang! You look good enough to eat. But will you get lonely without all those little adoring (although hungry) eyes gazing upon you?
While Fang gleefully spawns new leaves, his neighbor “Bashful Betty”, the bobcat, finds herself overcoming her shyness and taking more strolls down the previously crowded trails of the preserve. “It’s so quiet,” she observes as she boldly decides to stroll down the rest of Triknee trail in search of her morning meal. Not long after she spies a squirrel dashing across the trail. Silly squirrel.
‘Slow’ was not well respected in the local roadrunner family. His father always chided him during family gatherings in the canyon just below the visitor center, “You are so slow! You must never visit the open parking lot like the rest of us. Surely you would be hit by one of those boxes that humans move around in.” But over the last week those boxes had been strangely absent. And the parking lot is so warm early in the morning – and surrounded by flying insects that could make a good meal. Slow couldn’t resist… He moved cautiously out of the forest and on to the open pavement. His fear grew as he left the forested edge behind, but so did his confidence. He began to wander farther into the parking area. No ‘boxes’ were anywhere to be seen. Slow began to jump up and down and run around – albeit slowly. “This is glorious”, he said out loud. But will it last?
Toothache Tree Image Credit: Melody Lytle of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center