Why Do They Always Run?

I saw these goats as I was driving past this little farm, so I decided to stop and get a few pictures of them. As soon as I got near them they took off running as if I was some sort of terrible monster. Farm animals always seem to do this to me.

I wish I knew why they always run from me. Sure it could be that they run simply because I'm a stranger, but I always feel like that can't be all of it. Farm animals don't seem to run from other people like they do from me. Others get wonderful pictures of the animals coming up to them to be petted. I always get pictures of their backsides.

It doesn't seem like all animals run from me. Wild animals that should run frequently come right up to me. I used to be able to coax deer to come right up to me. I've even had a few of them motion for me to come closer. It's kind of weird when that happens.

Once I had six raccoons come running up and wrap themselves around my legs. At first I thought they were going to attack me, then I realized they just wanted to be friends. But then I couldn't get rid of them, so I ended up running for about a quarter of a mile over hills and valleys to get away from them. They were hot on my heels for most of the way, but I lost them when I ran through a creek.

Squirrels will routinely run right up to me and chatter at me angrily. They're the most feisty little critters I've ever seen. They seem to feel like every human in the forest has intruded on their land and they will give you a piece of their mind about it. In the end what they really give you is lots of good pictures.

But farm animals are the ones that run. Goats run more than most, but cows have run from me as well. Sheep react similarly to goats so I have plenty of pictures of the behinds of sheep too. I'd love to get that perfect picture of some of these animals, but they never want to cooperate.

So even though I live in farm country, I mostly avoid the farms for my pictures. I guess these running away pictures are still okay, but I'd rather have pictures of them running up to greet me. Wouldn't that be much more fun? Maybe I should take pictures of dogs, they like me. Or cats, there are plenty of those around here, some of them are even wild. Hmm, that's a thought. All sorts of new ideas. I'll talk to you later.