Saturday, September 5, 2020

Jessel's Not the Only Wildlife

Every year on my holidays, it seems, I observe quite close some wildlife casually moving about the streets of the city. Usually, it is while I am riding my bicycle early in the morning. I was riding last Thursday, about eight o’clock, just off one of the busier streets in my town, and saw this lady on a front lawn. She seemed quite unconcerned at my presence, and walked across the street.


In a back garden, she joined her two children, where they were browsing for breakfast. They are, I think mule deer, to judge from their large ears and the thin, small tail, unlike the big ‘flag’ of the white-tailed deer.


I was surprised at how close the mother allowed me to come. I was no more than twenty feet away when I took the final photograph in the series. I would have ventured closer, even offered her a branch of green leaves, but understood she was not a horse in a paddock; she was wild, and might decide suddenly that I was a danger and kill me with a single blow of a hoof, for all I knew.


Nonetheless, she was quite nonchalant, rather like a cat who, thought initially to be feral, turns out merely to be a shy stray, amenable to human companionship, like Jessel. Hmm, I wonder if I could sneak a deer family into the Cosy Apartment, just over the winter…


15 comments:

  1. She's too big to live in your bathroom.

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    1. Oh, come on. It's not like she's ever going to have antlers; they're the cumbersome bits...

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  2. That’s so neat. I’d love to have a deer family visit my yard, but I doubt my outside cat would agree...

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  3. We have deer that come into our fields now and again. When it is only one or two the horses ignore them. When the whole herd arrives the horses are less friendly and chase them. They object to sharing their grazing.

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  4. I think having a deer family in the cosy apartment is a great idea. I'm sure your landlord will never notice. But do you think the deer can be trained to use the litter box?

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  5. So sweet. I hope she and her babies will stay safe. ❤️

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  6. I too see a deer mama with two babes when I'm out and about early. I do my best to ignore them, but have still managed a few photos. Doesn't it seem better if they were afraid of humans? I mean, you and I are animal lovers, but other humans...not so much.

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    1. That’s always a concern, but I can’t believe there are more than a very, very small percentage of people who are that depraved.

      And I’m a misanthropic hermit.

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  7. Those are some really cute visitors and so fun to see!

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  8. I have many many many deer as well. They have eaten my tulips each Spring and much bird food but..I still welcome them all year. I just quit feeding the birds, planting tulips and veggies. I really do love to see them, truly. Regardless.

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  9. If you're serious about some indoor deer, I'll send you a few of the
    herd here, 20 or more some days. Love them, and they do like to eat
    elm tree leaves if you decide to offer them a branch. I keep out 6
    bird baths made from flower pot saucers and they can drink them dry.

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    1. That must be impressive to see. They're no doubt grateful for the water provided.

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  10. I think not...based on the damage done to a friend's home when a deer was spooked and crashed through a lower level window. Sadly it sustained serious injuries and died, in his daughter's bed. It was quite the mess.

    Besides, I don't think the cats would appreciate the extra guests. :)

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  11. We always like to see wildlife in a neighborhood. While not perfect it does show that they are doing well.

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