Whitetail deer climbing a bank beside our road.
I feel like I’m five years old when I see a deer. There’s something so romantic about deer. Maybe it’s that they look a little bit like reindeer, bringing visions of sugarplums and Santa’s sleigh. Maybe it’s all that poetic medieval imagery that goes with them–knights and kings and woodsmen. Or maybe it’s that they’re just plain gorgeous, and that they know how to play hard to get.
It’s certainly not that they’re scarce. Whether it’s the dry weather or increasing population or some combination of factors, they’re everywhere lately, and not just at dusk when they normally come out to feed, but all day. Leaping across the road in front of my car, grazing in the meadow bottoms, frolicking along the streambanks–sometimes dozens at a time.
The other day, I had all my kids in the car and a breeze kicked up. Leaves swished along in the air, skidded across the road. I said, “It’s nearly fall. Winter’s coming. Snow!” I looked at my oldest and said, “Remember when snow was exciting?” (When we lived in Texas, it snowed once a year and melted by 10 am. I used to wake them up just to come SEE the snow! Hurry, hurry! LOL! Now it snows for several months and when a good fall of it covers the ground, it stays for weeks…..) He laughed at the memory of snow being something out of the ordinary. I said, “Like deer. Remember when deer were exciting?”
We turned down our narrow country road and there were nearly twenty deer down in a big meadow bottom. I stopped the car and we just watched them for a long, long beat.
Yeah, they’re still pretty cool.
Kim A. says:
Well, as someone who prefers the company of most animals over that of most people, deer definitely are “pretty cool.”
Actually, I don’t even tire of watching the “common” squirrels and birds.
Seeing a live deer in the city is rare, however, though too many end up as roadkill on highway 401. 😥
-Kim
On September 13, 2007 at 7:56 am
Susan says:
I love watching the deer in our backyard! We have one that is so tame she comes right up to the downstairs door and waits patiently until one of us brings her a carrot. My dad isn’t very happy with them when they get into his garden though. 😆
On September 13, 2007 at 8:14 am
Becki says:
I feel that way about dolphins. First time I saw a dolphin I was thrilled. After nearly 14 years on the coast, they are still cool. We promise folks who visit us “refunds” if their trip to Texas doesn’t include at least one dolphin sighting.
Snow? It snowed here Christmas Eve a few years ago. Grown ups were playing in the falling snow. Next morning (Christmas) our 7 year old daughter played outside in the snow for hours before going to the “Santa stash”.
Here’s to kids, deer, dolphins, and snow—and all the day to day stuff that builds life long cherished memories.
On September 13, 2007 at 9:01 am
Ellen says:
We see quite a few deer around our place so you’d think we’d be jaded, but we continue to take the time to admire them. They’re not only beautiful, but also gentle in spirit.
On September 13, 2007 at 9:23 am
Janice says:
50 years of deer-watching, and I still think they’re cool. You and the kids are fortunate.
On September 13, 2007 at 9:27 am
Alice Audrey says:
I’m odd-man-out on this one. Around here we call them “rats on stilts.” Only the out of towners thing they are cool.
Ok, I’ve been known to grab a camera when they have their noses pressed to the window, but that doesn’t count.
On September 13, 2007 at 11:42 am
catslady says:
I love all animals. We get the occasional deer but not often enough. We had a flock of wild turkeys once that was amazing to watch them fly. Since I feed strays and ferals, I also feed possums, raccons and the occasional skunk. They come right up to my back sliding doors so I get to see them really close.
On September 13, 2007 at 11:45 am
Suzanne says:
Ooh, and aren’t raccoons pretty up close? They look so cool. Till they start tearing down my bird feeders, then I get irritable with them! :fryingpan:
On September 13, 2007 at 11:47 am
leanne says:
What is it about wildlife that is so peaceful to watch them interacting? There’s nothing better than watching the deer come down and feed, hearing the squirrels chattering as they bounce from tree to tree, and sitting on the porch in the evenings watching the bats flitter about as dusk comes around. Maybe thats just me, but I love living out in the country where it’s peaceful. Hope everyone has a great day today.
Leanne :snoopy: :thumbsup:
On September 13, 2007 at 11:50 am
Tori Lennox says:
I just love hearing about your life in West Virginia. 🙂
On September 13, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Melissa McClone says:
I love deer. We saw a family last night. It never gets old!
Snow for us is rare enough it’s very exciting with snowflakes fall from the sky. Not sure how I’d feel if it snowed for months and months at a time.
On September 13, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Heidi Dahlquist says:
I have always loved deer too. I found your site through Michelle Willingham’s. Your site is beautiful and swank did my site too! I’ll have to follow up with your writing! :thumbsup:
On September 13, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Margery Scott says:
I’m just getting used to seeing the wildlife at the lake. Deer, a family of rabbits living under our blue spruce, geese, loons. Even donkeys! Snow … not so exciting :no:
On September 13, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Estella says:
I live in town and we had a deer under our Eucalyptus tree Monday.
On September 13, 2007 at 4:23 pm
TeresaH says:
I remember being in TX and not hardly seeing any deer too! Up here though, we see a lot of them, they come into town here where we live (we live on the edge of town) along with the possums, raccoons and pheasant. I saw more deer the first year I lived up here than I did the entire 20 years I lived in TX :yes: And they are still cool!
On September 13, 2007 at 5:18 pm
TeresaH says:
Forgot to mention the minks and beavers, we see them a lot here too.
On September 13, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Brandy says:
We were able to watch a opposum grow up last year. He would visit and eat the cat food we put out for the strays every night. It was so cool!
I love to watch Deer and hate to see them on the side of the road when some JA of a driver isn’t paying attention and hits one.
Hope your day was nice. Please send some of that snow to SC this winter. *g*
On September 13, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Marty says:
Living in the city, I take any chance I get to watch wildlife. I think I’ll blog about my important wildlife soon 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
On September 13, 2007 at 7:49 pm