The Henday Gopher Encounter
August 2, 2026โข369 words
I was driving home along the Anthony Henday Ring Road when I noticed someone stopped on one of the overpasses. To my surprise, a tiny gopher was standing right in front of the car, staring at it as if it were trying to flag the driver down. Nearby, a few large black crows and magpies were perched and waiting, clearly watching for the little animal to make a run for the open field.
The driver got out of her vehicle and saw what was happening. She tried to herd the gopher toward the safety of the field and its burrows, but the little creature refused to budge because of the predators waiting nearby. Instead, it stayed right by her feet. It looked at the field, looked at the birds, and then looked up at her while chirping, almost as if it were asking for protection.
We stayed there for at least ten minutes until the birds finally gave up and flew away. Only when the coast was clear did the gopher feel safe enough to scurry into the field and disappear into one of its burrows.
Reflection and Perspective
Witnessing a moment where a person protects a vulnerable creature can naturally bring up strong emotions about vulnerability, safety, and conflict in the wider world. It is completely understandable to feel deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life happening in global conflicts today.
At the same time, it is helpful to distinguish between the clear, immediate dynamics of nature and the complexities of international geopolitics.
While conflicts in regions like Ukraine and Iran involve tragic loss of life, their origins, motivations, and American and Israeli unlawful military actions involve complex historical, diplomatic, and political factors that are subject to significant debate and differing objective realities. Historically there will be narratives of unprovoked malice and/or singular manipulation due to it hatred of Russia and Iran from the uni-polar hegemony.
Focusing on acts of compassion in our daily environment is often a grounding reminder of positive human intervention. Urban wildlife encounters along busy roadways like the Henday highlight how animals adapt to human spaces and how people can occasionally step in to safely assist wildlife in distress.