Cat Hiking at Vanocker Creek in the Black Hills National Forest SD

The rains came in 2008 and have been steady every since. After suffering ten years of severe drought, the entire Northern plains and Black Hills ecosystems have responded with enthusiasm. Creeks are over-flowing; flowering plants are exploding with blooms; huge flocks of songbirds pepper the grasslands. Leesha hopped out of the car and started exploring. She prowled through the high grass, pausing occasionally to chomp on a bit. I don't know what factors into the decision, but she's very particular about each blade of grass she eats. Then she crawled into the willows and found a small creek -- Vanocker Creek -- which probably had water for the first time in years. Delicately, she picked her way across the shallow water, shaking the water off her paws. Her first-ever wading session! She was fascinated by this little riparian habitat of sedge grasses, willows, and flowers. The creek was perfect cat size with no alarming depths or noisy rapids.
She wended her way along the bank as I watched -- to retrieve her, I would have had to endure scratchy roses and brambles. After twenty feet or so, she re-crossed the creek and came back up the bank to the field of flowers. Brian and I were taking pictures of the flowers, and she laid in the shade sniffing joyously.
"Come and see this," Brian called. He had walked down the side road and found an apple tree. Did a hiker drop an apple core? I gathered up Leesha and carried her to the road. She wiggled to get down and immediately started another hike up the creek.  This time she found a deer skull shining through the grass. A perfect photo opportunity! Back into the car we climbed to continue our explorations. At the intersection of Black Hills National Forest Road 170 and Black Hills National Forest Road 80, we found another meadow and over-flowing creek -- Park Creek. The lush flowers provided perfect prowling country for a curious cat. No in-the-creek exploration this time -- the creek was too wide and deep for a cat. On we went along Black Hills National Forest Road 180 as sundown approached. Leesha watched out the window; she loves twilight and night for cat looking. This time she saw a jackrabbit who watched her as intently as she watched it. A very satisfying "Big Out" for a cat! Louise with photos by Louise and Brian. Text and photos copyright, Goinmobyle LLC, 2009