Maryann's Wildlife Adventure
September 23, 2006
OK, not really "wildlife," but work with me here!
After Marni had been zonked out for a couple of hours - LONG day running around screaming with her cousins in Cherry Hill, being babysat by my family while I had a rehearsal! - I ran outside to grab her bag and the rest of my things from the car.
And LOOK AT THIS LITTLE BEAUTY I found! Poor little praying mantis (a.k.a. the coolest bug I've ever seen) got stuck inside the hallway of our condo... Conveniently, one of the items I was getting from the car was my little (but impressive, from the looks of these) Canon Digital Elph, so you know I had to take some photos before helping him get back outside where he belongs.
I did not realize these little buggers could FLY... which is how he made it to the railing from the other side of the stairs (after scaring me half to death!).
At this point he literally turned around to look at me, as if to say,
"OK, lady, I've had enough!"
Being the idiot that I am about nature (hey, I was born in South Philly, the only insects we had to be concerned with there were large city-dwelling cockroaches!), I called Tom to ask how to get him outside without hurting him... He said to get one of our long kitchen spoons and have him hop onto it to move him outside. That wasn't as easy as it sounds - he got on the spoon and then flew off in a haphazard fashion JUST as I got to the open door. A second try was more successful.
I put him on the grass near a nice bush, and away from any potential FEET that could squish him (at that hour no one was outside, but why risk it). Hope my little buddy is happier out there!
