Oh Deer

We are used to having deer in the yard during the winter but usually this time of year we only see them in our neighbor’s field occasionally. The other evening, Ardella looked out the window and there was a doe munching her way around the garden. Our garden has been fighting to stay alive with all the rain we have had and it is finally looking like there is hope of a future harvest. I walked out to scare the doe off and went through the gate and finally got about six feet away asking her to please leave the cabbage alone. Instead of running away, the doe stretched out her neck toward me and walked closer. I guess she thought I wasn’t a threat so the doe proceeded over to the dwarf apple tree and plucked off some newly formed apples. I chased her from the apple tree so she pranced through the corn and stopped to eat some pears. Finally she jumped over the fence and joined the llamas.




Today the doe was out in the back of our property munching away and we suspect there is a fawn hidden somewhere in the tall grass and brush. Spud has been kept out of the grass areas so the doe figured this would be a safe place for her fawn. We like the idea of having a fawn in the backyard but don’t appreciate the doe eating off the garden. I took a blanket Sadie has laid on and hung it in the middle of the garden. So far it seems to be discouraging the doe from munching the vegetables.



We thank God for all the wildlife there is in north Idaho. Many people move here and can’t understand why a deer, moose, or bear visits their yard. What they don’t realize is that these animals have used the area for hundreds of years and we are the newcomers. Patience and understanding of their needs is important. Our friends left their garage door open and a bear helped itself to the garbage. Bears will never turn down a free meal so a little precaution of putting food items away is important.



Ardella and I appreciate all the varieties of birds and ducks that use our property this time of year. The baby robins at the front door are now flying around searching for worms, the catbirds sneak about in the flowering quince, and mamma mallard still brings her four young ones everyday to the pond to eat. So we will put up with the doe and hope to see the fawn soon.



Go out and enjoy God’s wonderful creation and thank him for the birds and wildlife that we can enjoy.