Tom Ryan, Author

Tom Ryan, Author

Share this post

Tom Ryan, Author
Tom Ryan, Author
The Woodchuck and the Bald Eagle

The Woodchuck and the Bald Eagle

Tom Ryan's avatar
Tom Ryan
May 20, 2021
∙ Paid
338

Share this post

Tom Ryan, Author
Tom Ryan, Author
The Woodchuck and the Bald Eagle
Share

I'm thankful for Covid vaccines.

Because of their effectiveness, the uncharacteristically angst-ridden and recently jammed villages of northern New Hampshire emptied right before our return to Jackson. We arrived on Tuesday of last week, and we've yet to encounter the crowds witnessed from March of 2020 through April of 2021. It's a pleasure to meander through the woods and feel like nemophilists again. Our woodland haunts have always been sacred.

You can imagine how it felt to be constantly chastised for being who we've always been.

Out west, depending upon the month and the region, our concerns are rattlesnakes, mountain lions, javelinas, scorpions, elk, mountain goats, and grizzlies. But over the past four or five years, I worry mostly about human interaction back in New Hampshire.

We’ve encountered coyotes, black bears, moose, and deer when walking through the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). None of them are a threat to our way of life.

The biggest wildlife concern is an occ…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Tom Ryan, Author to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Tom Ryan
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share