It’s nearly Spring, and yearly with the Spring comes the One Thousand Trees All Creatures Great and Small series of events.
One Thousand Trees, the brainchild of founder Lisa Browning, has a mandate of empowerment through storytelling and connection. All Creatures Great and Small is a series of One Thousand Trees events with animals as a central theme, that happens in Guelph from March to October each year.
“We are excited to welcome author, educator and musician David Rankine to Harcourt United Church on March 23 as part of our series,” said Browning. She continued, “David will be telling us about his experiences with the Two Bays Coyote pack.”
Rankine’s chance sighting of a freshly excavated coyote den during a meditative walk at Inverhuron Provincial Park led to the purchase of a trail camera. Photos on the trail camera of the coyote pack led to more camera photos, and the beginning of a logbook. Before long, Rankine was “completely hooked.”
Rankine’s experiences and observations of the pack also led to the publication of “The Two Bays Pack: The Coyotes of Inverhuron”, published by One Thousand Trees in 2024.
Browning explained, “David Rankine has walked thousands of kilometres on coyote trails, learning first-hand about the behaviour and ways of this coyote pack. Exciting face-to-face encounters, howls and many trail camera photos have led David to a greater understanding of himself as a human being and a deeper understanding of these magnificent creatures. He often refers to this experience as "searching for coyotes to find myself."”
She added, “We invite the community to join David as he mixes amusing anecdotes and cutting-edge research in this introduction to the personalities and ways of the Two Bays Coyote Pack.”
Rankine’s experiences with the pack have changed him in profound ways. He said, “"When at the park, I am totally present with a mind uncluttered by worry or anxiety. I become a bigger version of myself, very human and closer to what us humans have been for 99% of our existence. I am quite simply in a state of perfect "being" embedded in the landscape instead of merely passing through."
One Thousand Trees invites the community to learn more about Rankine’s experiences with these special animals. David Rankine will be presenting The Two Bays Pack on March 23 at 2 p.m. at Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave., Guelph.
There is no charge for this event, although donations are gratefully received. Space is limited, therefore reservations are required.
Email [email protected] to hold your seat.