Doe, a deer
 

Doe, a deer, a female deer just greeted me at my front door.

This never happens! But I'm maintaining my yard as a protected wetland -- protected because I'm too lazy to mow most of it, and wetland because of the septic failure.

By the time I got the phone out, she sprinted up the driveway and into the deep grass. The phone's camera couldn't zoom...

http://cellar.org/2013/doeadeer1.jpg

...so I went and got a digital camera with some zoom, and this is full zoom including optical:

http://cellar.org/2013/doeadeer2.jpg

Ah, it's not a great shot, just proof that she was there. And seconds later she bounded up the hill with great, powerful leaps and I couldn't find her again. She is massive!

Coolio!

Sent by thought transference

I love your "yard". That doe was probably taken by a sasquatch a few minute later.

No, she's just enjoying the cover. And although a bowhunter would say she's delicious, I say she's enjoying your natural yard and will almost certainly return around dusk or dawn, and occasionally during the daylight hours if you're very quiet. Enjoy.

Wow!
Gosh she's gorgeous.

And I'm all excited because we have a returning hedgehog!
(which I am feeding on walnuts and pecans bought to make cakes for the staffroom)

A hedgehog! Can you post some pics, Sundae?

No.
I mean, I wish I could, but they are quite easily spooked, especially as we live in Cat Central, apparently.
By the time I got close enough for a flash to work I'd already be stressing out him/ her.

I'm just happy to have found something the catskins don't want to eat.
And trust me, with Diz, that's a tricky prospect. He eats bread, dried fruit, cake, biscuits, crisps - you name it. But not nuts. And not banana.

Just as an addendum to my previous post, I meant to contrast UT's wonderful experience with my lowly one. I think it's far more marvellous to have a doe in your garden than a hodgepig, but we get the wildlife we are given and celebrate it anyway, right?

I guess it depends on what you're used to - I'd be thrilled to see a hedgehog, since we don't have them. Whereas deer are plentiful in this area, and while I enjoy watching them, I wouldn't say they were more wonderful than other animals. I do agree with you ... celebrate 'em all!

UT - she is a beaut. Throw out a little corn to keep her around. She'll be fine eating when bow season comes around. You can take her out and none of the neighbors will ever know

I only have bags of frozen corn, will that do?

I must add, the "green area that surrounds my place, previously known as a lawn" is also definitely home to two rabbit families, at least one immense vole, three different species of ants, a bird that makes an annoying ticking sound in the morning, several squirrels, and a skunk that I have never actually seen.

I was joshing with you, but seriously a 50 lb bag of corn only costs $9.00 at the feed store or in the sporting goods section of Walmart. Throw out a couple of cups a day and she'll get used to being close to your house. I guarantee you will get some great photos. She probably has a fawn near by.

Ah, Sarge, you're a bowhunter. Just as I thought.

I always think of the perfect bowhunter's shot - having tracked or waited on a doe until she's calm, relaxed, takes a mouthful - she doesn't feel the arrow as it passes. Not then - she lifts her head, takes a tentative step, then darts forward in confusion, unaware of her lethal wound, and drops.

No stress hormones, nothing to taint the meat. I guess it's as good a death as any of us can aspire to.

However well I die I don't expect anyone will be interested in my taint.

It's the tenderest cut of all the meats.