Life and Death on the Red

by Rollie J.

Sitting 20’ up in my tree-stand, I silently waited for the coming of the dawn. The woods all around me were dark and shadowy and lacking detail. My mind felt much the same, still foggy, and unclear from my early morning awakening. I was on autopilot and had withdrawn inward to my thoughts lacking outer distractions from the forest. Color, and light remained hidden off stage awaiting their cue for entry. The remaining morning stars above me hinted that soon I would witness the birthing of one more beautiful day.

Suddenly, the silence of predawn was shattered by breaking tree limbs, a flutter of what sounded like wing flaps, then followed by an intense, loud, and piercing screaming. I instantly recognized it as a rabbit in distress call. The force of his screaming was blood curdling and I cringed at the thought of what was most likely taking place. The earsplitting shrieking lasted for a long 30-40 seconds and with each sequence it grew less and less intense. The death cry soon faded into the silence of the morning, like a balloon that had expended its air and gone flat. I could only hypothesize as to the scene, but I imagined an owl or night hawk had found its prey and been successful in its hunt.

Within seconds my hunch was confirmed as an even louder screeching could be heard from what I assumed was the victor. These screeches lasted 2-3 seconds each, with a pause of maybe five to ten seconds between each sequence. This intense shrieking went on for a good ten minutes. Was this hawk or owl screaming in victory and shouting for all the valley to hear that he was the greatest hunter? Was he like an NFL receiver proudly doing his signature dance in the end zone after a touchdown catch saying, “look at me?” Or was it more like a UFC fighter proudly strutting around the octagon in victory pounding his chest? Or maybe it was actually a; she, a mother shouting to her nearby young ones that breakfast would soon be served. A Sausage-Egg-McBunny sandwich was on its way.

Or maybe it was none of these. Maybe it was this avian predator’s way of simply shouting “thank you!” to the Creator. Maybe it was her way of shouting gratitude, and gratefulness for one more meal. Maybe this loud screeching was singing praise to God for the sustenance of daily bread, or in this case; daily bunny. A saying “thank you for providing for one more day of life." I settled back into my thoughts.

Daybreak soon arrived in all its glory. Sunshine poured out freely over all of the woodland realm. Brilliant amber light penetrated all the corners and shadows of the woods and with its arrival colors and details came along as faithful companions.

Looking skyward into the blue a majestic bald eagle floated effortlessly overhead directly above me. He glided effortlessly with nary a wing flap as he perused his domain over the Red River. He was so close I could even notice a subtle tilting of his head to the left. I took it as a personal acknowledgment and nod to me, a fellow hunter.

Soon, I looked to my left at an opening in the forest floor and there appeared a beautiful 2 ½ year old, 8-point buck grazing on the river bottom grasses a mere 80 yards away. He was eating away, nary a care in the world bathed in gorgeous morning sunlight. His blond antlers shown brightly, and more importantly he was ambling in my direction.

I reached for my bow in preparation, and softly issued a couple of soft grunts from my call. He showed little interest in my call but continued slowly in my direction. As he hit the 60-yard mark, he made a sharp bend left, then did a startled jump away like he had been briefly spooked. He was so curious about something on the ground that he circled it. I craned my neck to see beyond a blocking tree and sure enough soon found the object of his focus. There appeared to be a large hawk or owl on the ground. I grabbed my binos, and sure enough, verified that it was a large owl. The buck made two more circles around the owl and the owl postured and flapped and hissed to scare him off. Was the owl defending its kill or had it been grounded, being wounded in the skirmish? This buck-owl interaction proved quite comical.

The buck soon lost interest and ambled off my way. He had read my script and followed the lines perfectly. He soon sauntered past my two scrapes that I had added scent to and walked slowly by me broadside at eight yards. I chose to pass and let him live another day. There had been enough death in the river bottom for one day. I silently said thank you prayers for the opportunity and all that I had been privileged to witness.

An hour later I quietly descended from my lofty perch. The owl was still in the same place. I made sure to keep a large tree between me and the owl in hopes of getting a good photo or video. I did my best stalk and peering out from the side of the blocking tree at 20 yards, I disappointingly realized that the owl had vanished into thin air. He had silently flown off. Scanning the trees above me I looked for the shape of his outline but found none. The Houdini like qualities of his silent escape flight were remarkable.

Looking down at the ground, the final piece of the morning’s puzzle was revealed. The mystery had been solved. Case closed. There lay a dead rabbit body… with his head neatly placed to the side. Bits of blood and fur lay nearby. Ikabod Crane would not have approved.

Life and death played out before my eyes and ears here on the Red River of the North. No, we were not deep in some secluded hidden wilderness area. I could literally toss a rock across the river and hit Edgewood Golf course.

Was this event tragic or heroic? Depends on if you are the rabbit or the owl, right? And this is just one of thousands of similar life and death events happening in and around us in the Fargo-Moorhead area each day.

Most of us pay little heed, nor hardly a second thought to the natural world of life and death all around us. We drive by the dozens of dead deer lining the ditches of our highways. Nor do we pay attention to the dead skunk, squirrel, or raccoon that never made it across the street. We don’t mourn the fly that was eaten by the frog, that was eaten by the mink, that was then eaten by the eagle. We make bad guys out of the wolves that eat our deer and elk. And we are quick to judge ol’ Wiley E. Coyote who is almost always seen as the villain. Yet, we swat the mosquito on our arm, spray the ants in our kitchens and trap the mice in our basements. And the bats that eat those same mosquitoes must be done away with as well. And let’s not even go down the road of Thanksgiving turkeys, bacon, steak, and chicken nuggets! Why is it that one creature is valued over another? Is it based on sentimentality, cuteness, tastiness, or Disney?

We live in a complex and complicated world. The interconnectedness of life is so much greater than we think or appreciate. As the famous Chief Seattle spoke so beautifully long ago: “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.” Right on, well said brother Seattle.

I felt so privileged to have heard and witnessed what took place between the owl, the rabbit, and the deer. But I am sorry. I don’t have any great answers, wisdom, or insights for you today. My only consolation is for us to know that life and death go hand in hand. Being made human, and in God’s own image, we are wrapped tightly into this natural law of creation. None of us are above this law, and even if you can avoid paying your taxes… you cannot avoid death. Your own and all of those you love and care about.

So, knowing this absolute and undeniable truth… How will you choose to live your life today? Are you waiting for COVID to be over to start living? Are you waiting to be out of debt to start living? Are you waiting for your spouse to change to start living? Are you waiting for God to sky-write an answer to your questions before you start living? Are you waiting to meet Mr. or Mrs. right to start living?

This is the day that the Lord made. So, let’s be glad and rejoice in it. May you live your life fully. This is the one day you have been given.

-- Rollie J.