Most people who know me know that I would rather stab sharpened pencils in both my eyes than go shopping on Black Friday. I remember turning on the news that day in 2008, while spending a lovely Thanksgiving on the Oregon coast with my sister and her family, and hearing about the poor man who was trampled to death at a Walmart. I still find it unbelievable that human beings would kill each other for a bargain on a big screen TV. Luckily, there are beautiful alternatives available for those of us who prefer not to risk our lives in order to get five dollars off on an external hard drive.

So, this year, I decided to brave the relentless crowds at the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge and Lava Beds National Monument. It was hectic, but worth it. The eagles were out, shopping for deals on ducks, geese, and maybe even a swan or two!

The bucks were shopping for does. (Or, were the does shopping for bucks?)

The hawks were out looking for bargains on just about anything. Hawks just aren’t that picky!

At one point, it got so hectic that one of the hawks crossed paths with one of the bucks. And you can just imagine all the shouting in the background when the geese and swans noticed what was happening.

To top things off, on the way home, I was so distracted by the light show that I had to pull over and look. As far as I can tell, it was a publicity stunt put on by Mother Nature to get everyone to come out and spend some time in her “store.”

After witnessing the beauty and brutality of wild animals in the wild, I wondered if maybe people trampling each other to death is just part of the circle of life. And as I drove home, exhausted from all that activity, I decided I would rather brave the crowds in the great outdoors than save a few dollars on something I most likely don’t need anyway.