Blessed with Critters

I feel very fortunate that I live in the mountain-valley region of Virginia, far inland from the hurricanes that are bringing destruction to many coastal areas. This does not mean that we won't be affected; we could very well get winds and heavy rains in a few days. Roads may flood, power lines may go down. Already the price of gas is up, and food prices will follow. I urge everyone to keep reserves of bottled water and food that doesn't require refrigeration or cooking. It's a small world and our supplies are interconnected. Keep your gas tank close to full and your devices charged, friends!

Our hummingbirds have not yet flown south for the winter, which is fortunate. I wonder if they can sense that violent storms are raging in the Caribbean?

Some of my blogging friends live in Florida and have traveled away from home to avoid Hurricane Irma. I hope everyone is safe. I fear for those who find themselves in horrible weather, and for the animals too. At the same time there are terrible wildfires in western states, and disasters in other countries. I see the news and feel grief. I've made donations but feel inadequate in the face of the catastrophes that are sweeping away homes and lives.

We have failed to protect our beautiful world. Is it too late?

Sorry, I did not mean to write a sad piece. Let me get back to an appreciation of nature. It is still magnificent.

Here is a great blue heron on our community lake. He looks more blue than usual in the afternoon light of September. I snapped these pictures from the car. I regretted that I did not have my Nikon with it's more powerful zoom lens.

Next we see someone's pet rabbit. Within a few minutes, a girl scooped him up in her arms so he would not wander too far.

This deer is one we saw in Shenandoah National Park this week. It is wearing a tracking device because researchers are monitoring the deer population in efforts to prevent an epidemic of chronic wasting disease. 

Sharing with Saturday's Critters, Weekend Green and The Bird D'Pot.