Posted on 07/03/2014 4:32:07 PM PDT by lee martell
I was heading home after visiting friends in Emmeryville, a small industrial town near the Oakland/ Berkeley borders. It was a little after 11pm when I made a left turn off the freeway, onto my neighborhood block. The night fog had begun to gather, floating slightly above the cooling earth. I was approaching the first traffic stop at a four way intersection when I saw something spring up near the passenger side of my car. What I first thought was a very large Great Dane turned out to be a mature adult deer. Although I should have known no one would allow their purebred Great Dane walk around unleashed at night (they're worth too much money) it would not have been out of the question. I often see unusual dog breeds around here. I see Borzois, Whippets and a set of Dalmatians who are walked every morning before seven.
So this Deer reared up and jumped back onto the sidewalk on my left. I had a Green Light, but I decided to just stop and let him go across. This Deer must be domesticated just enough to know that these two ton driving machines with humans often stops for a little while, so it seemed ready to proceed. Before the Deer crossed in front of my car, I could see he was not alone, behind him was a Doe, and behind her was a small Fawn with knobby knees. The Fawn looked to have been whelped a few months back. There was still the downy fringe remnants of baby fur on it's legs and back. Funny how they almost always travel in threes. So after all three took a look at each other, the male was brave enough to lead them across the street to safety. Their hooves clip-clopped against the cemented sidewalks on this quiet night. Four seconds later, all three had disappeared into some brush I never before noticed.
It would have bothered greatly me if I had hit the Deer. Nobody around here wants that. Even though we know the Deer are not in danger of extinction. Still, they were among the first residents, with us coming much later. Well, the only exception may be the slowly growing numbers of street people who go down to the Civic Center Pond and catch some Canadian Geese for their supper. Praise God, I have not been that desperate so far.
I'll let others chime in...
Strong ungulates do ok during 'drought', since they can find water, and get a lot from the forage they eat. They are plains creatures in Africa.
/johnny
What drought? Colorado is so wet we have mushrooms!
/johnny
Causing cars to crash then drinking from the radiator. It’s getting crazy out there.
They have been using low flow toilets and using other measures to prepare for this.
I entertained a few customers at this restaurant...
They are surviving on private property where they can get water and green stuff.
We’ve got tons of deer around here in SE Pa..
They ignore you if you don’t have two legs. If you are on a horse, no problem. If you are in a car, no problem. If you stop your car and put one leg out the door, no problem. If you stick your other leg out the car, problem.
They are really dumb.
I have seen small deer in town here. Grazing in backyards, especially of empty houses. I saw 2 run up the street one morning.
You probably wouldn’t recognize Emeryville today. It has gotten VERY upscale since Pixar moved in.....sigh
You blew it! California lets you keep your roadkill and a buck would’ve made for some tasty venison!
(sarc)
Seriously, good on you for taking the time to protect three of God’s creatures who are managing to make a living in that leftwing cesspool called ‘the Bay Area’.
A deer?
Or a Deere?
I’m in Marin County, near a city called Novato, which is a ‘hoot and a holler’ from San Francisco. Gov. Brown keeps chastising us for wasting water
And you know..the first deer was a buck?? How?
This time of year...probably little antler growth. But you tell me.
Deer are one of the leading causes of accidents with cars......They aren't predictable. I've hit a couple....One certainly lived...was but a love tap. The other I'm not sure...They are tougher than we give them credit.
There. Fixed it! (you can thank me later)
Deer are everywhere, and will feed not only in wild areas, but in yards, gardens and farms. There will be some die-off during a drought, but it might not be easily apparent to you.
You should have hit the bastard, tied him to your car roof, take to a local processor to turn into delicious venison.
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