Balance on the Winds of ChangeWolves are making a comeback! A few weeks ago there was a wolf sighting in Colorado and it was the first in four years. The male from a pack in Wyoming had wandered over the state line and the sighting was confirmed by Colorado Parks & Wildlife staff. This is great news! Wolf populations have been restored in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, and Arizona. There are no plans to reintroduce wolves in Colorado, but they're protected under the Endangered Species Act so the wanderer was safe in our state. How cool would it be if they expanded their current range and re-established their home in the high country! Wolves, like most predators in the wild, bring balance to entire ecosystems. Years after wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone, wildlife biologists discovered more viable deer, elk and moose herds; animals that wolves depend on for food. The plant population also rebounded because the herds grazing on native vegetation were kept at healthy numbers. In my painting, Home for Wolf, I've placed footprints of animals critical to the wolves' survival, including mega fauna like elk, moose, and bison, plus smaller critters such as snowshoe hares and jack rabbits. In the book, Of Wolves and Men, author Barry Lopez gave words to how I feel about wolves. "I learned from River that I was a human being and that he was a wolf and that we were different. I valued him as a creature, but he did not have to be what I imagined he was. It is with this freedom from dogma, I think, that the meaning of the words 'the celebration of life' becomes clear." So here's to the celebration of life! Happy fall equinox! New Painting Coming Soon!I'm excited about my newest painting! This one is focused on the important relationships between native plants and...butterflies!
Conservation CornerAs the days get shorter and cooler, pretty fall leaves will soon be brightening our days! And this year, instead of bagging and putting them out curbside with the trash, how about using them to blanket your garden and plants! Here are a few ideas for making the most of your fall leaves:
Hike at Bear Creek Nature Center!Fall seems to be a little late this year in Colorado. Summer temps are still lingering so the pretty fall colors aren't here yet on the front range. Even so, I had a lovely hike in El Paso County, west of Colorado Springs.
Wishing you a gorgeous fall season! Cheers to nature! |
With love and appreciation for the natural world, I'm inspired to share how plants and animals are connected to one another, to their ecosystem homes, and to people around the world. I bring into visual form the concept of biodiversity and the unity of all life. I hope my art helps you feel your own special connection to the land, the water, and all precious life on Earth. In our connection, lies hope. ~ Rebecca Archives
September 2024
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