The Hunter's Moon will shine from the night sky for the next several days. The first full moon following the autumn equinox, the Hunter's Moon usually occurs in October and is named for the fact that the harvest season has ended and the hunting season, once vital for our survival, has begun.
Of course, humans are not the only hunters to stalk nature's ecosystems during the colder months of the year. But even natural predators, from shrews to wolves, gain an upper hand during the harsh conditions of winter, when freezing temperatures, icy landscapes, heavy snow and a lack of natural cover stress their prey.
For those of us who do not hunt, the Hunter's Moon is thus a reminder that the culling season is underway and many of our wild neighbors will not see the coming spring. Knowing that life is fickle, we must acknowledge that the trials of winter will take some of us as well.
