While walking along the path at Johnson’s Woods I was struck not only by the constant presence of a wide variety of insects, but by how many chipmunks were running from tree to tree and beneath the boardwalk. As I reached close enough to see the stripes on these chipmunks’ backs they would scurry away out of site. I began to wonder as I walked if my being on this boardwalk–or the boardwalk itself being there–caused the chipmunks significant distress.
My human presence, however, was not the only thing that could have upset the chipmunks otherwise peaceful day basking in the sun at the foot of a tree. My four-month-old goldendoodle puppy could have also been an unwelcome intruder into the chipmunks’ habitat. The boardwalk was also an unnatural barrier to the chipmunks having free reign of the woods which they so bountifully occupied.
I suppose that, in living in an area such as this, humans and other unnatural visitors and features have become part of the daily routine for the wildlife of Johnson’s woods. The chipmunks, insects, greenery and other flora and fauna are thriving despite visitors and structures that occur unnaturally. Were there a few chipmunks who were frightened to death by a giant (to them) puppy? Possibly. It is also possible that the natural and the unnatural live in a balanced harmony within Johnson Woods.
I like the interaction you bring with multiple animals during your trip to Johnson’s woods, and it is interesting to think about your ideas of human interaction with the place. In my opinion, though, I think it would have been helpful for this post to delve more in depth about why you think the boardwalk impedes animal life. In my opinion, humans aren’t the main factor of being a hindrance, for they now are expected to be here. Once the boardwalk was built in Johnson’s woods, the forest was changed forever. Building a boardwalk invites humans into a nature preserve that should be preserved as much as possible (aka not building a boardwalk). I think your final question too is interesting. It seemed to me like the boardwalk provided some sort of an unnatural habitat for some of the smaller animal species that could fit through the cracks to build their homes.