Oh, deer! It’s snowing again!

 Late yesterday, we noticed a whitetail browsing on the lower branches of some conifers at the back edge of our property. This morning, after it began snowing again, we saw a couple of deer feeding on short conifers at wood’s edge along the northern side of the  yard. As the snow continued, six or eight deer walked (one scampered) through the yard right behind the house. All of them, plus a few others, ended up browsing along the field edge south of the house. This was more deer than we’ve seen all winter in total until today. It’s a tough time of year since there’s still deep snow cover, much of the easy browse has been consumed, and winter doesn’t want to acknowledge defeat. Plus, humans feeding deer isn’t acceptable due to chronic wasting disease. 

at the northern wood’s edge

Photo by J. Harrington

right behind the house

Photo by J. Harrington

south of the house, field edge

Photo by J. Harrington

If you live in or around the North Country, cross your fingers and say a prayer or two for the wildlife that has to make it through the next two to four weeks before things begin to improve. Remember, many of the does are carrying fawns from last autumn’s mating season.

Three Deer in Oquossoc

By Sonja Johanson

East will take me back. I drive

west. I wend between snowbanks,

until the road delivers me

to a sleeping boat launch.

 

They stand on the frozen ramp;

watch me with coats that are

better than mine. Ice houses

and snowmobiles edge the distance.

 

I have to turn around, I say

to them, I went the wrong

way. They stamp and chuff.

No, they tell me, this is the way.

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