Attacked!!!!

We have seen lots of wildlife on this trip: bison, elk, brown bears, black bears, coyotes, mountain goats and big horn sheep, to name a few. With all these wildlife encounters I guess it is inevitable that one would eventually turn on us. However I was unprepared for the attack of the dryocopus pileatus. D. pileatus, otherwise known as the pileated woodpecker, is normally a shy and reclusive bird. The Canadian variety is apparently bolder and does not like good ol' boys from down south.

We had returned to the coach from an excursion in Jasper, and when I opened the door, there was a loud scratching and scurrying noise from the back of the coach. My first thought was that a squirrel had gotten in and was trying to claw his way out. I rushed to the rear of the coach and found Woody clinging to the outside of the coach, pecking on the rear bedroom window. This is the same window we had just replaced in February this year. CRAP! I ran outside and tried to shoo him away, but he was a stubborn and determined old bird.  I actually had to brush him off with my hand. Our windows have a highly reflective surface, and he was apparently either enamored with or behaving aggressively toward his own reflection. Each time I chased him away, he flew to a nearby tree and glared at me. As soon as I turned my back he was on the coach again. After going around and around with him for about half an hour Woody gave up and left. Thankfully there was no damage to the window, although he did tear off three weep hole covers cemented to the bottom of the window frame. Thankfully, these are easy to repair.

It was a terrifying experience, but I was brave, stood my ground and protected my family and the coach. Score 1 for the good ol' boys.