You Just Never Know

I take a camera to the mountains because you just never know what you might be able to get a picture of. I was in Workman’s Creek today with my friend Mountainsaver and the first thing we came across was this black snake.

The snake was soaking up the sun and didn’t seem to care at all that I was taking his picture. He stayed right there the entire time. I would guess it’s length to be in the 3 to 4 foot range. I have seen them as much as 10 feet long. Black snakes are harmless so this snake was still alive when we left. Had it been a copperhead or rattler I would have ended its life right there on the road because they are poisonous and very dangerous.

Not far around the road from here we saw two coyote but they were much to quick to get a photo. It was only the second time I have ever seen coyote in the mountains of West Virginia. Although I have heard them quite often.

The area we were in is a very good spot to see bear and I have been wanting a picture of one forever. It seems as if the only time I see bear is when I don’t have a camera with me. I didn’t get a picture of a bear but I did get a couple photos of bear tracks.

I would say this small bear had passed through this area within an hour of us getting here. The tracks leaving the water hole were still wet on the dry road.

I have came back from the mountains with some pretty interesting stuff before and when I say that I mean I have found things in areas where it would leave me wondering how it came to be there to begin with. I found a little Hotwheel car one time in the middle of the woods in the middle of nowhere. That one really baffled me. This time we found a puppy. We actually found the puppy and his mother but unfortunately the mother was beyond help.

I have a big soft spot for puppies and there was no way I could leave the little guy. There is no doubt he would not have survived since he was miles from any house. The coyote would have surely gotten him if I had not brought him home.

I think the little puppy looked better than I did. In my defense the photo of me and the puppy was taken after about 6 hours of four wheeler riding. The puppy seems to be in pretty good health although he was both hungry and thirsty. He looks a little ragged in the photo because he had just received his first bath.

I have been kind of looking for another puppy ever since Sam died so maybe it was fate that put me in a position to rescue another dog since I blame myself for Sam’s death. I still have all of Sam’s toys and this little guy was quick to claim them for his own. I’m amazed at the playfulness of this little puppy. One would never guess that just a few hours earlier his home was in the West Virginia backwoods. Now he has a new home and a new lease on life.

I still haven’t named him because I would like to give him a name that fits with how he came to be with me. I thought about Lucky but for some reason, even though he is lucky, it just doesn’t feel right. I’ll think of something. For the moment I’m just happy to have a new friend and from the way he has taken up with me I’m quite sure he is to.