Yes! Throughout my life I've had some very special relationships with wildlife. It started when I was quite young and had a red bellied brown snake that always hung out in the same place. They were incredibly docile, and would let me carry them around in my hands for hours as I explored outside. This went on for a couple of years.

Later, I got to play foster to baby raccoons when my grandfather would find them orphaned on the farm. They were so much fun, and it was always bittersweet when it was time for them to be released.

In 2016 an injured squirrel showed up on my porch. I tried luring him into a carrier to get him to the local wildlife rehabilitation center, but he was too clever. I wound up nursing him back to health myself as best I could. Any time I'd go outside he'd climb all over me and was so friendly. I think about him a lot, and that experience was very special to me.

After that, I moved up to the UP and lived in a national forest. A herd of deer became like outside pets, and they'd come onto the porch and stare in through the glass door when they wanted to be fed. In the spring they'd leave their fans in my yard for daycare, and it was a delight to see them chilling in the yard with me during the day.

The chickadees up there would get daringly close in the winter, so I decided to see if they'd eat out of my hand if I had high value treats. It worked a little too well, because they'd come and land on me when I got home from work or was outside for other reasons. I ended up winning over some cute little nuthatches, too, but they weren't as fearless as the chickadees and wouldn't bother with me unless I had food.

I live in a good sized city now, so I don't have the same opportunities I did in other places I've lived. I miss it so much.