A Deer in the Headlights

Yesterday, I was driving Anna to her evening art class. It was dusk, and I scanned the roadsides for deer. Just nearing the end of our road, we passed a deer that was lying in the grass. I asked Anna if that deer was dead, and she said she wasn't sure. It's head was down, but it looked oddly composed to be dead. I proceeded to take her to class, not knowing what I'd do anyway as I still mentally turned it around in my head as to how one helps an injured deer. No, I couldn't do anything. Maybe, like many wildlife I find, leaving it alone, it would recover and run off.

On the way we saw two herds in the fields on either side of the road, twenty at least, as cars whizzed by at 55 mph. Anna successfully deposited at class, I determined to at least look for the deer on my way home. I slowed, and there it was, lying down in the grass, but now with it's neck and ears up and alert. Putting on my emergency flashers, I got out and the poor thing tried to run. It's back leg was broken through. Someone had hit it and left it to die in this frigid weather.

I called everyone I knew who hunted, and as luck would have it, no one was home. I called directory assistance to get the sheriff, but the office was closed. Finally, I called 911. "What is the nature of your emergency?"

I apologized for using the service to call about a deer but could they please send the sheriff? The man's voice audibly relaxed, almost happy to take this "emergency" call that was easy and he could handle. Ten minutes later, the sheriff arrived. I explained. "Well, ma'am, I'm sorry but all I can do is put it down." I told him that's why I had called, I wanted him to shoot it, to put it out of it's misery in this cold and before the coyotes tore it apart alive. He was very nice when I said would he mind if I left, not wanting to witness it though I thought it was the right thing to do. He for the first time looked at me and smiled, saying that they do this all the time and he didn't mind. I repeated my gratitude that he was doing this and left.

Later, I returned along the same route to pick Anna up from her class, and there lay the deer along the road, dead. Sad, but happy that it was no longer in pain, no danger to passing cars, and not freezing. Today, it'll feed some vultures, and the cycle continues.

Notes:

Dad called my sister yesterday and said he was going home the next day. Although this was based on a comment by the pulmonary therapist not a doctor, it does appear that he will be able to go home sometime this week. It is wonderful to see his continued progress. Though still winded, he got up and walked yesterday.

Yesterday, it was so cold that when I let out the two chickens that I currently freerange, they roosted on a garbage can and shivered. They let me catch them (an indication of just how cold they were) and I returned them to the crate in the garage (my current solution to the lack of a heated coop for them; dh is not amused).

I still feel like I've just emerged from having the flu. I'm trying to catch up but my limbs feel heavy, my eyes want a nap. It will come, I'm sure.

My Town Monday - Divided by Deer

Years ago, a highway was built which ran to the south of my town. As time passed, development shifted to be closer to the highway, expanding what was considered to be "my town".

At the time it was built, the area was wooded with a creek running through it. In their infinite wisdom, the highway engineers decided to leave a wide median of woods and creek between the north and south lanes of the highway. This was to give passing motorists something interesting to see as they traveled our area. It may also have had something to do with the management of the creek, but the foremost thought was that it would be picturesque.

The reality is that the wooded median, while visually pleasing, has created a predator-free place for herds of deer to graze, living on the edge of cars and semis passing at 70 mph. Dead deer are not an infrequent sight here, mangled alongside the road. It is a serious danger, particularly during the most common time they are active: rush hour. The north bound lanes have the added bonus of an adjacent 1000 acre park that is under development and pushing out deer that live there.

What to do? There has been talk of building a wall along the highway to keep deer in the median and from trying to cross the highway. About as effective, I would guess, as building a wall at our Mexican border. The wall has to end somewhere and the deer will cross there.

I am no hunter, but I would much rather see the highway closed one weekend (there are easy detours around this section) and have the deer hunted to lower numbers. Yet, a recent proposal to let hunters in the 1000 acre park to hunt and kill deer, donating the meat to homeless shelters, was refused. It was deemed too dangerous. I am wondering if it is as dangerous as letting my teen daughter drive that highway dodging deer? Two teen girls were killed not too long ago when after hitting a deer, they swerved into a tractor-trailer.

I do hope our county or state will take some action before more fatalities make them realize it is a serious problem.

Visit other towns virtually and avoid dangerous deer! It is the brainchild of Travis Erwin, soon to be famous author. He is taking a break until after the holidays in hosting MTM. Chris at e-Cuneiform Scratchings and I will be hosting MTM in the interim. If you would like a link to your MTM post, please leave me a message in the comments section.

Do a little virtual traveling by visiting:

J Winter in Cincinnati, Ohio responds to my questions!
Cloudia in Waikiki, Hawaii
preTzel in preTzelville
Jennifer Jilks in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada
Patti Abbott at Wayne State University

Sneaking Time

I literally have two minutes to post this because Lauren is reminding me that we are leaving in ten to go to a movie. I get to go to the Kiddie movie with Wm while the rest of the crew get to ahoy in Pirates. Oh, well.....

Lauren and I made 12 pints of strawberry jam, and then went to ride. Our horses were scared by a flock of buzzards and several times, by deer. Also saw a girl on a motorized scooter. I wondered at that - why motorize something that would give a child some exercise? I guess we'll have to ask Wm, who owns a Peg Perego John Deere Tractor and is saving for a gator.

Better go now, before I get caught blogging.

P.S. The deer flies are out.