Chasing Life: Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest

By Gordon James Harrison

Dive into the heart of Ontario's untamed wilderness with Chasing Life: Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest, a captivating photographic odyssey that spans three decades of trail camera usage and digital photography. Explo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prometheus Publications
• Release date: Nov 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781999225957

Gordon James Harrison

Gordon Harrison is an accomplished and revered nature writer and photographer whose work has captivated readers and viewers for several decades. With a profound passion for the natural world, Harrison has authored seven books that explore the intricate connections between nature and science. Through a unique blend of prose and breathtaking photography, Harrison has provided invaluable insights into the beauty and wonder of our planet, encouraging a deep appreciation for the environment. Early Life and Inspiration: Born in a lumber camp, Harrison spent his formative years immersed in the lush landscapes of Haliburton, where his love for nature was cultivated. The tranquil surroundings of the forest served as a rich source of inspiration, igniting the spark that would later lead to a remarkable career in nature writing and photography. Awards and Recognition: Harrison's contributions to nature writing and photography have not gone unnoticed. His work has received numerous accolades, including the BIBA award for best independent book award. This recognition is a testament to his dedication and talent in bringing the wonders of nature to a global audience.

Book preview

PRE-PUBLICATION PRAISE

for

Chasing Life

Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest

Gordon, you are such a brilliant writer.

—Ann Nickell Autry, Birmingham, Alabama

I feel as if I’m there alongside the wolves.

That is proof of how well you write.

—Fern Connolly, Gracefield, Quebec

As always amazing pictures! Looking forward to your next book! Where can I read it? !you are an amazing photographer! I absolutely love your pictures of stories Please keep sharing! From with in my heart Thank you! ♥

—Marilyn Fear, Calgary, Alberta

A deeply compassionate understanding of life and death.

—Melinda Freestone, Salt Lake City, Utah

This has always been one of my favourite photos [beaver] of the many you have made. A beautiful nature scene. Thanks for sharing this!

—Larry Keeley, Port Hope, Ontario

There are always dead in the forest... Your cousin is always with you in your heart... our little red Fox is dead in the snow... The Circle of Life Goes On... It’s all so beautiful!!!

—Shir Linnie Edward, Clinton. Mississippi

You have such a knack for expressing the beauty of nature!

—Maribeth Miles, Chicago, Illinois

What a blessing, to observe a mama bear and her cubs over an tended period. As a human I congratulate you. As I photographer, I’m a bit jealous. Thank you for sharing the experience with us, Gordon. Seeing your pics and reading about these guys has been a treasured experience for me. You’ve given me the closest thing to being there.

—Doc Christopher Haynes, Banning, California

PUBLICATION PRAISE

for

All my Writing

I love your writings.

—Patricia Ann Yguado, Cumming, Georgia

•You have touched my heart, Gordon.

•Thank you for everything you share with all of us.

•What an incredibly difficult life built of survival instinct from birth to death. You sir are a blessing to us all.

—Melinda Freestone, Salt Lake City, Utah

What a perfect respite from politics. More, please . . . think of the sanities you will save. There is no better remove from the day’s stress than a beautifully written piece executed by a writer who knows his stuff. . .. Again, more, please.

—Mary Alice Richert, Portland, Oregon

I have started enjoying your stories. Really you are gifted with creativity I have come to know. Great work!

—Niwagaba Peter, Kampala, Uganda

This picture and story touched me again. Thank you, Gordon.

—Esther Stamp, Oshawa, Ontario

Wonderful Gord! Looking forward to reading it! What a gift you have for nature and language!

—Joy Cornelius, Peterborough, Ontario

You are a fantastic storyteller!!

—Marg Laws, Ottawa, Ontario

YOU are consistently awesome. I lost two friends during covid-19, one to brandy and the other mentally ill. Sorry to read of your troubles with an alcoholic older generation. The humans and animals all love you.

—Timothy John Anderson, Melbourne, Australia

•Your writing is extraordinary, and the photographs accompanying it are outstanding.

•Fascinating capture! You get such incredible shots, almost as if you were an animal whisperer!

•You are a wonderful poet as well as the Thoreau journalist of our time!

•I would like to live in the land of your books!

•Your writing gets more beautiful with each rendition!

•I have no words! Having lost two of my three children, the poignancy of your writing touches my heart deeply.

—Maribeth Miles, Chicago, Illinois

Another fascinating read from the author. This one is focused on his early family life and the struggles to eke out a living in a harsh environment. A definite page turner a must read for all his followers.

—Graham Yates, Ottawa, Ontario

The storytelling is so vividly written, it transports me to the place the story originates. I feel I can hear, touch, taste and smell all that surrounds me on the printed page.

—Robin Innes, Ajax, Ontario

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed two of Gordon Harrison’s earlier books. I started with My Cousin & Me: And Other Animals, and then I read Wolves: Ryders in the Whirlwind. They were both very well written and illustrated and I find myself picking them up often to reread my favorite parts. Now Mr. Harrison has given us his current Magnus Opus and I simply can’t get enough of it. The advanced views of Dreamer At the End of the Universe that Gordon Harrison has released are amazing and compelling. I look forward to owning my own copy of this book and getting to read more of what he has given us small samples of.

—Doc Christopher Haynes, Banning, California

Gordon, you are a magnificent storyteller!

—Laila Aziz, Karachi, Pakistan

You have a gift for conveying experience into words. You are a master of the written word, Gordon!

—John Bondurant, Portland, Oregon

Other books

by

Gordon Harrison

All my books are available on Amazon, at Chapters,

and fine bookstores everywhere and are offered as eBooks worldwide.

In the beginning, I had no conscious intention of writing a trilogy. But after a while, the people, the bears, the wolves, and the other animals in my stories took on a life of their own, demanding more description, time, and care. I was attentive to such pleading, longing to be remembered before all this will be forgotten. This enchantment with the land, animals, and people is still fresh in my memory. This happiness is still felt in my heart.

Chasing Life

Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest

Embracing the Wild: A Majestic Wolf in a Winter Snowstorm

Chasing Life

Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest

by

Gordon Harrison

Copyright © 2023 by Gordon Harrison

Published by Prometheus Publications

Peterborough, Ontario

Canada

Chasing Life: Wild Creatures of the Field and Forest. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including audible, photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of quotations embodied in critical reviews and specific other noncommercial uses allowed by copyright law.

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Published in print and electronic formats (epub, mobi, and pdf).

Trade paperback ISBN 978-1-9992259-4-0

Electronic version ISBN 978-1-9992259-5-7

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Cover design by the author

Picture of the author by Larry Keeley, photographer

First printing November 2023

To all the magnificent wild creatures I have known.

To Mother Courage, Big Red, and Barney too.

CONTENTS

Chapter-1 Forest Royalty

Chapter-2 The Warrior Class

Chapter-3 Goatsuckers

Chapter-4 Jewels of the Night

Chapter-5 Miscellany of Birds

Chapter-6 Tree Rats

Chapter-7 Lords of the Sky

Chapter-8 The Fox Knows Many Things

Chapter-9 Miscellany of Mammals

Chapter-10 Bears & Bears & Bears! Oh My!

Chapter-11 Wolves

Meeting a Majestic Guardian of the Wilderness, Lupus

PREFACE

My Farm in the Haliburton Wilderness

I Took the Majority of Photographs in this Book within Sight of my Home

I have chased life through these fields and forests for 80 years. As Yates wrote, I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head. Even after eight decades, the flame still burns bright. My earliest roaming with my cousin lit this torch, and the remarkable animals keep this flame at a steely blue intensity. I share this fire in my head with everyone through the photographs in this book.

Welcome to the enchanting world of Ontario’s Wild Animals, captured in the pages of my picture book. Ontario is a province teeming with natural beauty, and within its borders, a remarkable array of wildlife thrives. From the pristine shores of its countless lakes to the lush forests that stretch for miles, Ontario’s wild animals are a testament to the rich biodiversity of this region.

In these pages, I invite you to embark on a visual journey through Ontario’s diverse landscapes and meet many of its most fascinating inhabitants. Each photograph in this book is a window into the lives of these creatures, offering a glimpse of their behaviors, habitats, and the extraordinary adaptations that enable them to thrive in this dynamic environment.

Ontario’s wildlife is a source of wonder and inspiration. It reminds us of the delicate balance of nature and the importance of preserving these precious ecosystems for generations to come. Through the lens of these photographs, I hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world and a sense of stewardship for the incredible creatures that call Ontario home.

As you turn the pages, you will encounter a menagerie of large and small animals, each with a unique story. Every species plays a vital role in Ontario’s intricate tapestry of life, from the majestic moose that roam the boreal forests to the tiny, delicate songbirds that grace our gardens.

You will find commentary that delves into these animals’ biology, behavior, and significance throughout the book. I hope this additional information will deepen your understanding of Ontario’s wildlife and inspire you to explore this province’s natural wonders firsthand.

Whether you are a budding naturalist, a devoted animal lover, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the natural world, I know you will find joy and inspiration within these pages. Ontario’s wild animals are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life on Earth, and they remind us of the profound connections we share with all the creatures of this planet.

So, join me on this journey through the wilds of Ontario, and may the images and commentary within these pages kindle your passion for preserving and appreciating the incredible wildlife that graces this remarkable province.

Creatues Who Have Found Places in my Heart

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The genesis of this book took a lifetime. I have always considered myself to be fortunate. I have also been lucky to have many friends who suggested improving the text. My daughter, Jennifer, has listened to me rave about my photographs and has always been encouraging. My long-time friend, Evelyn, has been an essential sounding board, source of ideas, and unending support. And a special thanks to Larry Keeley for his endless enthusiasm. I thank my editor Martha McCarney, who polished the text as much as it would allow. I am most grateful to everyone. An old proverb affirms, Luck never gives; she only loans. But in the writing of this book, I have been Lady Luck’s primary beneficiary, and she can never take away her gifts.

Although they will never know, I sincerely appreciate all the animals who, at once or another, have made a home on my farm. I am thankful to have known Mother Courage, Big Red, Barney, Lucy, and Snowhead and for the many times they allowed me to photograph them. On this small planet, in a minor solar system, in an ordinary galaxy, at the edge of the universe, I have known these magnificent creatures while scientists grub for microbes on Mars.

The pictures in this book are mine except where noted and three AI-generated photographs.

A Challege & A Prize

Three of the photographs in this book are AI generated. Can you find one? If you can, email me at [e-mail]

. In the subject line print AI Challenge, and in the body of the text give the page number and briefly describe the AI picture.

I am offering $100.00 for each photograph so identified to a limit of $300.00 per person for the first three people.

Forest Royalty

White-tailed deer are even-hoofed ruminant mammals of the family Cervidae ( cer -vi- dae ). The two main groups on the farm are the white-tailed and the moose. And, yes, moose are the largest deer. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year. I affectionately call male deer bucks or princes and female deer does or princesses of the forest. Of course, the bull moose is the king, and the cow moose is the queen.

White-tailed Deer

Bull Moose

My earliest memories are of animals: goldfinches, squirrels, minnows, frogs, and deer. These are as clear to me as if they had appeared this morning rather than decades ago. My family lived in a rambling old building called the Boyd House on Brady Lake, near the farm—my place in the universe. Mother was the cook for a large crew of loggers, sawyers, and drivers—the only woman among fifty men, and she loved it. Our large blue and white house was situated on the rise over-looking the lake, which seems much smaller now than in earlier years.

When you are a child, every day is sunny, even when it rains. So, whether it rained and then the sun came out, or the sun was out, and then it rained, I cannot recall. But my mother called me to the window to see a doe and her fawn step out of the mist on the far shore of the glassy lake for a drink. From that moment until this, I have been as profoundly imprinted as any of Konrad Lorenz’s geese. The white-tailed deer is the quintessence of grace and beauty, a supreme example of the results of natural selection. Both animals, doe and fawn, hurriedly drank from the lake, turned, and bounded away, swallowed by the eternal green forest. I never saw them again except in my mind’s eye, where they will never grow old or die.

At two years of age—and every year after that—females get pregnant and typically have one to three fawns in April or May. For their safety, the mother visits her babies just a few times each day so they may nurse. Mother and child are inseparable once the fawns can run (bound). By fall, the fawns’ camouflage spots have vanished for a spotless fawn), and their coat darkens to blend with winter’s hues and absorb more sunlight.

I feed deer in both summer and winter. In truth, I feed all the animals, both great and small. Under a red maple tree beside my home is a spot I call the Cracked Corn Café (see photograph below). I regularly drop a 55 lb (25 kg) bag of cracked corn on the ground. All animals come to my café except wolves and moose.

Through this practice, the deer have come to trust me; they remain calm when I appear. At first, this worried me. What if they stay equally relaxed during hunting season in November? Am I setting them up to be slaughtered? My fears were soon dispelled when a friend arrived at the farm. The white tails promptly disappeared into the forest and reappeared only when my friend departed. I, like all humans, had underestimated the intelligence of deer. Undoubtedly, they recognized different faces.

There was a second problem with feeding deer and animals, or so I have been told. A few people thought feeding animals makes them soft and less able to stand the rigors of nature. This is false, tragically false. Most birds and animals are in decline all over our beautiful blue planet. What we have caused, we are morally bound to correct. The least I can do is feed the survivors!

I once cradled a fawn in my arms—it was a memorable experience, such a bundle of warmth, softness, and legs. Its complete and utter helplessness produced a protective instinct in me as if it were