The wilderness, be it a forest, the tundra, a desert, or a beach, will always have its share of dangers. Many people seem to have forgotten this, and are regularly doing incredibly stupid things. Wild animals, though, are taught when they are very young to be cautious and alert to what is going on around them. If they aren’t, they usually don’t survive long. As they mature and gain experience many animals learn what situations are safe and what situations are not. But youngsters are usually extremely cautious. That was the case with this young red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) that was in the woods this morning. I’ve been watching this bird since he fledged, and although he is definitely curious about me, he is always very wary when I’m around. This is the closest he’s ever gotten to me, but despite the fact that I didn’t move (except to press the camera shutter button), he wouldn’t come to the feeding station. Other than providing food and frequently being around, I don’t do anything to encourage the wildlife getting used to people. I love having them around, but not all people feel that way, so it can be very dangerous for them to get too used to us. A proper amount of caution is not a bad thing for either wildlife or for people.