Category Archives: Animals

Cat Tales

Spring of 2010, there was a hidden litter of kittens born under our house. We noticed a grey female occasionally wandering the property, but unaware of any newborns. Then on a Sunday morning in May, the mother was struck by a car. She crawled to our driveway where I discovered her broken body and a tiny suckling kitten. Dare County Animal Control arrived quickly to put her down. It was heartbreaking and now we were stuck with five unweaned kittens. It took some time to nurture and gain their confidence.

After three months, we took them to a TNR clinic sponsored by Hatteras Island Friends of Felines. They got fixed and had their shots. Now what! We fell for them and continued caregiving.

A year later when Hurricane Irene flooded the villages, I remember scooping them up one at a time in rising water to bring them indoors. The storm surge was higher than ever, the power out, and we were all huddled inside as gusts pounded the house. It was an unforgettable night!

At 11 months old I cornered them on the front porch for a family portrait. In front (left to right) is Hairy, Bigfoot, and Shy One. Greyguy and Darkguy are in back. Hairy, like his mother was hit by a passing car. He was only 18 months old. At 3 years old, Shy One was trapped by a neighbor and taken a few miles away and despite weeks of searching, never recovered.

Years later as indoor cats, Greyguy and Darkguy both succumbed to cancer and had to be put down. Bigfoot was diagnosed diabetic in 2019, at the age of 9. We administered insulin twice a day for nearly 7 years and he survived really well. Just recently though, he developed an untreatable health issue and had to be put down the day after Easter. He was 16 years old and very special, outlasting his siblings.

Each had a different personality and we named them descriptively. They were beautiful  polydactyl males that over the years, took us on an unforgettable bitter-sweet journey. They were about unconditional love, life experiences and inevitable loss. I miss them.

The Return of Old Buck

Locally, the tradition of celebrating Old Christmas continues. A throwback from the Julian Calendar, it’s ongoing today. When the Gregorian Calendar was put into effect sometime in the 18th century, folks here were late to change. In the isolated village of Chicamacomico, they kept Christmas celebration at the old date. Nowadays this community must be one of very few in the country celebrating Christmas twice. 

Going for a couple hundred years, Old Christmas has morphed into what it is today, most recently this past January 10th. My favorite part is feasting on roasted oysters and waiting for the arrival of Old Buck, the legendary steer that comes out of Trent Woods to join celebrants.

There are plenty of oysters. These were roasted in the same homemade cooker as mentioned in my previous post.

The community skatepark was as popular as ever!

The weather was great. Lots of people were outside for oysters and others indoors for chicken and pastry.

Oyster shucking is an art unto itself, requiring care and concentration.

Owen O’Neal arrives with Old Buck. Caretaking of the symbolic creature has been passed down for generations through family members or relatives.

Old Buck is led into the community building greeted by excited revelers. At times it seems chaotic.

I had to watch myself as Old Buck got a bit rambunctious.

It’s good luck to touch Old Buck. Before you know it, he’s out the door and gone another year!

This year, Old Buck’s appearance was expedited by his handlers. Thanks to Owen O’Neal, Willy Smith and Andrew Midgett.

Frog Blog

Nearly 40 years ago when I built my house, I installed a 1300 gallon cistern next to it. All along, it has fulfilled many yard or garden needs. Several weeks ago I opened the hatch and noticed a tree frog swimming inside. No harm done there. It was likely eating mosquitoes anyway. 

Checking a few weeks later, I began to see the result. There were hundreds, maybe over a thousand tadpoles swarming about.

Within 3 weeks some were getting legs, then loosing their tails.

I put a few cedar shingles on the water to provide more habitat.

Then I placed a wood ramp leading them to the open hatch.

Some began climbing the inside walls of the tank..

They averaged only about a centimeter in length.

Now tiny hoppers are emerging from the cistern, with multitudes yet to go.

So far, they look like they’ll be happy in their new home!

Endangered Species

November of 1986, I covered the first introduction of red wolves to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. As I recall, two pair of wolves were flown in by a US Coast Guard helicopter to Dare County Airport. I was shooting as a freelancer for Newsweek while my friend and author, Jan DeBlieu was writing their story. There must have been 50 photographers and journalists present, something for which I was not accustomed. Nevertheless as Sue Behrns attached a radio-tracking collar, I made the most published photograph I have ever shot. It was reproduced in Newsweek, Weekly Reader and Newsweek Japan for millions to see. The wolves were kept in holding pens and officially released a few months later.