June is surely the favorite month for most of America's youth; from primary schools to universities, classes have ended and these young, adventurous souls are looking forward to a long summer, free from the many demands of education. Even during my high school and college years, when I spent by summers as a lifeguard at area pools, I recall the exhilaration of those first days of June. Now that I am tied to a nonseasonal lifestyle and have become less tolerant of summer heat, the month has lost much of its charm.
Humans are, of course, not the only species that have a special fondness for this first calendar month of summer; the young of many wild creatures are making their first venture into the exciting world of nature. The first round of songbird fledglings have left the nest, following their parents throughout the woodlands and demanding constant attention. Young cottontails, now independent, scamper across the fields and brushlands, oblivious to the many dangers that will ensure a short life span. Out on the evening meadows, spotted fawns have left their hidden beds and bound along with their skittish mothers. Fox and bear cubs, having ventured beyond their birthing dens, explore a new world of sounds and scents.
June is, indeed, a month for the young. It leaves a strong impression on the memory of man and, for many wildlife, may be the beginning of their one and only season in the sun. For now, joy reigns; troubles can wait.
