It was amazing to watch people walk by the deer and not see it, but I could tell from the tilt of her head, that she was watching everything, every movement of every person. I pointed out the deer to a couple of passers by, one wise person asked what I had my lens focussed on. Many were so engaged in trivial conversation that they missed the glories of nature that they were walking in the midst of.
We have deer are here in the DC suburbs, but not in huge numbers. There is too little forest, to many busy roads. There was a doe and twin fawns inside the fence here at the Condo this year (we are four high rise towers on 35 acres, we have deep wooded ravines around the buildings.) Down along the River, I saw deer two or three times in a year, only once did one stand still so I could get a good photo.
This photo was taken in Huntley Meadows, a county park not far from home. The property is large, 200-300 acres. Bow hunting is allowed on about half of the park, this wise doe was on the other side of the park. Still she was watching and being weary. Wise lady.
I suspect, the deer see me, more than I see them. This is their environment, they know how to blend in, how see without being seen. Who is watching who?
It's always a special little thrill to see a wild animal in its natural habitat.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat of a rare sighting here
DeleteMore often than not I think we are the ones being watched.
ReplyDeleteAnd you don't have the CIA just up the road from you
DeleteI have a feeling, like Maddie, that we’re more often the ones being watched.
ReplyDeleteThe cats are always watching you
DeleteWild deer, like all imported hoofed animals, are a real pest here. No native animals have hoofs and the land doesn't deal well with hoofs. Their numbers are controlled by shooting etc, but not eliminated as they should be.
ReplyDeleteDeer are native to north America, but we have eliminated most of their natural predators, and overpopulation is a problem in some areas.
DeleteWe get deer in our yard once or twice a month and the cats and dog go crazy watching them. Such graceful creatures, and if we're careful, we can go out on the deck to watch them and they watch us watching them!
ReplyDeleteFun to watch
DeleteYou are so right, I'm sure they see us more often than we see them.
ReplyDeleteThe coyotes are watching
DeleteIt is amazing (and comforting) knowing how much wildlife is around us.
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly lots where I live.