We wonder how wildlife is faring in the face of this prolonged drought.  It cannot be a good situation for birds and mammals living in their natural environment that has, in a sense, turned against their best interests with water scarcity.

At least the wildlife in the ravine is not completely bereft of a water source.  The creek running through the ravine to the Ottawa River downstream, still is pouring through, albeit at a low level.  So there is moisture there for the animals and birds that require it.  Elsewhere it can be a different story.  This area is rife with wetlands, and when the water table goes perilously low, the wetlands tend to dry up.

As we were entering the ravine yesterday to make the first long descent, we interrupted the activities of two hares, and watched while one, then the other, taking its time, scurried elsewhere out of range of our sight, and therefore, lessening the potential threat to them.

A short while later we saw what appeared to be a juvenile owl flapping and teetering about on the lofty branches of an old ash tree leaning over the ravine.  It looked as though it had very recently left the nest, although we know that others like him had done so a month earlier.  Below, where we stood, a few squirrels rapidly approached to cadge peanuts from us.

Made me wonder whether with our daily presence and peanut handouts we were patterning these squirrels to lose their natural sense of alertness to danger from all directions, including from above.