| incidental | accidental |
| predicament | situation that is hard to get out of |
| dietitian | specialist in nutrition |
| waders | waterproof boots |
| poacher | one that kills animals illegally |
| sloughs | places of deep mud |
| briar | thorny stem |
| haven | safe place |
| gauged | estimated |
| commute | travel back and forth |
| mystical | spiritual meaning |
| biologists | those who study living things |
| random | determined by chance |
| audible | heard |
| semi-dormant | half asleep |