Furred Animals I’ve Seen in Nature

Posted by Jill Stefko Aug 8, 2008

I love animals and am thrilled when I see wild animals in their natural habitat. Some of my most cherished memories are of my brief encounters with them.

While I was writing Deer, Pagan Symbol of Gentleness, I thought about my encounters with them. My family had a cottage in the Pocono Mountains. It was there that I saw my first deer. I marveled at the gracefulness of the animal.

I saw Bear: Powerful Pagan Symbol years later when I was horseback riding on a back trail to a state park. At first I thought was a big bush and two smaller ones. Then, I saw movement and realized it was a mama bear with cubs. I knew how fierce a bear can be when her cubs might be threatened and was concerned she might charge, but she just ignored us.

My thoughts turned to Rabbit/Hare: Trickster-Fear Caller. We had our resident bunny. I’d leave carrots and lettuce for her, hoping I could catch her. I thought of fear when she ran away when I tried to approach her.

When I was six, one of the neighborhood boys caught Bat: A Powerful Pagan Symbol and had it in a cage for a few days before releasing it. I was intrigued that I saw a mysterious animal of the night in daylight.

I taught horseback riding for Naval Air Base Oceana’s stable. I was trail riding with my beginner’s class when I saw Fox Pagan Symbol: Camouflage running through the field. I thought of the slyness of the animal.

I thought I saw Weasel: Pagan Symbolism, and thought about its cunning, but while doing research about the animal, I realized it was too large to be a weasel. I’m still wondering what it was.