Lions and Bears and Owls-

Oh My!

Well, it finally happened to me. It was only a matter of time before I would be attacked by a wild animal. After all I spend an inordinate amount of time in the woods-and it was bound to happen eventually. A bear? Nope! A mountain lion? uh-uh! A randy moose? Nah! How about an owl! Yep! I was off on a trail run in Alice Lake Provincial Park just north of Squamish, British Columbia, when a large barred owl flew onto a nearby limb. Gorgeous creature indeed. I tried to photograph him with my small point-and-shoot that I was running with. Watched him for awhile-tried to focus on him- (her actually) when she swooped down at me! Yikes! I have heard of this happening-now it is involving me! I started running down the forested trail and she came down at me a couple of more times. I start running faster- and that blasted owl kept flying down the trail at me. I picked up a stick and started singing in as a I ran- this would have made good video coverage- a crazy Italian lancing at the air with an alder limb! After about a third of a mile or so, the owl let me go! It was exhilarating and a bit unnerving. Of course there are bears and cougars in this park and I was out on an evening run all alone-but it was the owl that got me! Trust me- her chicks have nothing to worry about-I will not be returning anytime soon to look for them. Be careful out there-its a jungle outside!