Utahraptor Ceylene

Visitors call her the ‘aspen raptor’, or ‘ski raptor’, because she emerges from the woods along the slopes. Locals know her as Ceylene. Between her plumage and the dangling bit of skin on her snout, we joke that she’s a stocky sea gull. I saw her up close once, but wasn’t scared. We know she has a peaceful demeanor towards us. She just trudged over the ridge to hunt her favorite prey (giant crickets) with her copper-colored claws, then headed back into the aspens.

© 2020 Kelly Ishikawa