Deer Oh Deer

Black-tailed fawn

Our current house and pet sitting location on Vancouver Island provides us with views of the endearing and enchanting Black-tailed Deer. In the early morning hours, a mother and her three offspring travel gently through the trees to access the pond built by the property owners. My attempts to take photos from the great outdoors is interrupted by the slight squeak made by the sliding doors. Frank wants to admire them too. They trot briskly into the bushes. Prey are famous for being skittish.

As I type this post, the gentle troop saunter across the lawn and nibble at the new shoots. Frank takes a photo through the window. It is our privilege to observe their beautiful coats, flickering noses and ears, and quiet attention to signs of danger. The deer are not aware that the birdseed set out for the local ducks is not meant for them and supplement their grazing by taking in the new food.

Young deer from the window

With urban development and the introduction of farmlands and non-native plants, shrubs and trees, deer habits are changing along with their habitat. On the Island, it is not unusual to see a herd of deer grazing alongside a herd of cows, both sharing the same field.

Courtesy of the Internet

During the day, the deer camouflage themselves among the trees. At dusk, they travel the same path back, past the pond, into the other edge of this property and beyond. Their presence seems magical.


Fawn photo courtesy of: http://wingtips.org/