The shady cross roads from the early days of October that lay on the shore of the Winooski River no longer exhibit the full green plumage that once engulfed the passer by. The leaves from the tree tops have almost all fallen to the earth, and the sensitive ferns have turned brown as the days have supposedly grown colder. A few herbaceous plants still stand tall and vibrant, though the subtle brown tint has begun to creep up a leaf or two. From the looks of it Salmon Hole is preparing itself for a long winters nap behind a blanket of snow.
Sitting on the foot bridge my ears searched for the call of birds, but was greeted with the sound of passing traffic just up the hill. The occasional dog strolled past frightening the creatures that rest just outside of sight. Aside from one fat squirrel and two garter snakes seen, the evidence of wildlife was slim. My hypothesis for the lack of wildlife is how high trafficked the area is. Between the busy road that runs along the park and the high foot traffic of those fishing or enjoying nature, it would make sense for a large portion of wildlife not accustomed to humans would be frighten. My hope, however, is that there is more wildlife that lives outside of my observations.
October 22, 2017