Just about when you think you have everything figured out or know what is going on in nature you get a lot of surprises.

This past week was one of those times that I woke up with tapping and went to sleep with an awesome display of nature’s annual firefly ritual. My entire 24-hour period kept me hopping and wondering what would happen next.

It started when I awoke to the sound of tapping on metal and it didn’t seem to be anything that was man-made. It would be a tap then another then a rapid series sort of like a Morse Code signal.

Looking out in my driveway we searched for the source, soon we found it, a hen turkey pecking at her reflection on my new truck bumper.

I don’t know if my insurance covers that so I stepped out on the deck and addressed the hen, “Whoa girl … that’s just a bumper not a new turkey on your turf!”

She just looked up at me and gave it another few pecks for good measure. I guess this turkey takes her job as the estate bird seriously and she was soon joined by her boyfriend the Ring-Necked Rooster who would crow at the whole scene.

I went back inside and finished my tea and decided to let them wear themselves out and they soon moved on to chasing away gray squirrels.

About this time, I decided to gas up the Fish Hawk and check out my night lighting system. Shotgun Mike and I were heading out for Lake Arthur to try our hand at Striper fishing after dark. Boating after dark requires lights that work and mine did work as planned!

Anyone that has a boat knows the joy of having everything work as planned. We never got into a striper but found plenty of alewives and bass and crappies. The water was popping with a hatch of insects and alewives hitting them … but it was not our night for the stripers.

Coming home late at night we went through Slippery Rock and saw the locals and Rock students sitting at the outdoor tables along a few of the fun establishments on Main Street and I told Mike that was a different type of wildlife!

We both chuckled at the thought of parking the boat on Main street and taking up two or three parking places. We used good judgment and kept moving along to our road. There we were greeted by the smell of fresh skunk spray and it was strong and recent. Mike gathered up his gear and slowly worked his way down the path to his house as I cheered him on.

Morning found me looking at my prize pumpkin planting … a raccoon had dug it all up and ate my prize seeds. The pumpkins were my entry into the challenge Mark DeMatteis and I had for the biggest pumpkin contest. We obtained these seeds from the Canfield fair and now a critter was smiling at his good fortune.

Fortunately, I had a few back up seeds and we are back to the beginning again!

When you garden or grow crops you are always fighting critters and pests for control of your garden or crops. Entering my garden, which is double fenced for rabbits and deer especially I found a whole family of tree swallows hopping about the soil looking for insects, in this case the birds were very welcome. My other ally for the garden showed himself as I was breaking off garlic tops … a healthy garter snake who is frequently on patrol for slugs and crickets.

Heading up the road I saw a turtle trying to cross a state road and people were oblivious to his plight. Yes, we turned around and helped him scoot across the road before he was hit by traffic. He was very determined to make it to Slippery Rock Creek and find himself a girlfriend. By this time, I had a full 24-hour period with plenty of nature so we sat down to watch the Pirate game. Andrew McCutcheon just blasted his second home run and the Bucs had a four-game winning streak … awesome.

Now they could have their fireworks … but it wasn’t fireworks night in Pittsburgh, but it was in our yard.

My wife called to me to check out the front yard. It was the best firefly show of the year so far. Dozens of fireflies lit up the air, the trees and the ground. They blended high into the night sky until you couldn’t tell if it was a star or a firefly until they blinked … thanks for the nice surprise Mother Nature!

Until we meet again keep alert for the surprises of nature and Happy Father’s Day to all of the DADS!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle