A 1.5-mile-long creek is located very close to our home. It is called the Minnehaha Branch. Every day when I walk the dogs, we go alongside its banks for a good long block. We have seen many animals come up out of the creek while we have been walking, including foxes, coyotes, dee,r and more.
A lot of deer travel along this branch and into our neighborhood. The branch is protected on both sides by thick underbrush and large trees. My son took the attached picture of a buck in our backyard just a couple of weeks ago. I am sure it came to us through the creek.
Wildlife integrates more and more with urban settings like ours. It’s dangerous for both the wildlife and the humans, but it is also a reminder that we share our world with so many other creatures.
The creek has become more than just part of the landscape—it is a living corridor that connects us to the natural world. Walking beside it each day is a reminder of the hidden pathways animals use, the quiet resilience of nature, and the responsibility we have to respect and protect these spaces. It brings wildness right to our doorstep, weaving our daily lives into the larger story of the land and its creatures.
“I used to be frightened of the countryside after dark. Now I enjoy it. There is something wonderful about those strange country and wildlife noises.”
– Jasmine Guinness
