Foosels'
What is a "Foosel;" you ask?
Well I'm about to describe one to you, so listen closely and you will
soon see a Foosel up close and personal in this fantasy story.
Let's begin our hike into the wooded forests of Western Washington.
I chose this area because that's where I spotted my very first Foosel.
Stay close behind me because you never know when one might pop up.
Summers are the best time to spot these little critters because Foosels'
love to lie on the huge rocks along the mountainside soaking up the warm
Washington sun.
It is important to stay on the marked trails to avoid stepping on any
"Gooey Snails." Binoculars
are helpful in spotting the elusive Foosel from miles away.
Sometimes they can see us coming so we need to be real quiet and
binoculars let us know right where they are.
Foosels' have a long pointy nose, long whiskers and can run very fast
with their long skinny arms, fingers and legs.
Their tiny feet have very large claws to help them climb the tall
evergreen trees to sleep. We are
coming up on an area now called "Mushy-Gushy."
This is where Foosels' love to hide.
Mushy-Gushy is a dark covered area where moss grows heavily and the
ground is covered in wet leaves and mushrooms.
Tiny Foosel footprints can be seen scattered amongst the wet leaves and
sometimes a small piece of their fur (also known as Foosels) can be seen stuck
to low lying bushes.
Mushrooms are a Foosels' favorite snack.
Many wild mushrooms can be poisonous so I don't advise picking any up.
Foosels' make a squeaking noise to alert other Foosels' of intruders into
their area. They are afraid of
humans but curious critters anyway. Stay
close to me as we venture through Mushy-Gushy.
Why there is a Foosel now! His
head can be seen peeking around the corner of the tree.
Can you see him? His
whiskers are twitching and he is squeaking quite loudly to warn the other
Foosels' of our arrival. This means
we've been spotted! We need to move
quickly now before the other get away.
Look! There's another one!
Did you see him? They are
very quick and to watch a Foosel run is a real treat. Look up in the tree! There's
a momma Foosel and her baby Foosels' sleeping together in the tallest tree.
Let's keep going as to not disturb her.
Well, I'm glad we were able to spot the Foosels' today in the forest.
If you are ever out hiking make sure you are with an experienced guide,
never hike alone and keep an eye out for the harmless and elusive Foosel.
You never know where he'll pop up!
Copyright
1997 by Author Patti Tricoli
