Tag Archives: deer

It’s not easy being a deer.

August 14, 2020 Rivergirl 22 Comments

This is the time of year my heart goes out to these graceful wild creatures.

Because in Maine?

It’s fly season.

And there’s nothing flies like more than a juicy deer.

The poor things are covered in them.

Day and night, night and day.

All over their bodies.

They twitch, they scratch, they shake like a Parkinson’s patient to no avail.

I can’t even imagine how horrible this must be.

I go berserk if one nasty fly finds me when I’m mowing the lawn…. I’d be stark raving mad if I had to contend with this many!

Critter central.

August 12, 2020 Rivergirl 15 Comments

Woodchucks are still being tormented by starlings.

And are sometimes drastically outnumbered.

Deer and fox happily dine together.

Squirrel keeps an eye on deer.

But calls in back up.

Until another fox shows up.

Who is so chill he lays down and eats like a Roman.

How chill?

He even smiles for the camera.

Deer, fox and squirrels depart, woodchucks return.

It’s the circle of life.

Otherwise known as an average afternoon in our backyard.

*note – these pictures were taken before the drought turned our lawn a lovely shade of brown*

Hullo gawgeous…..

August 8, 2020 Rivergirl 18 Comments

Our buck finally showed up at a light enough hour for me to get some decent photographs.

Yes you, you handsome devil.

And while I love seeing him….

I fully appreciate his wariness and reticence to visit the nightly buffet.

When you’re that handsome you have to be careful.

His rapidly growing rack will make him a prime target of every yahoo with a rifle in a few months.

And the thought of his beautiful head mounted on someone’s wall makes me physically ill.

But for now, he and his family are safe.

And we enjoy our rare sightings.

Even if his rude wife does keep sticking her tongue out at me.

Random critters.

August 5, 2020 Rivergirl 18 Comments

I was finally able to grab a few pictures of our resident buck.

Which is getting harder to do as the summer wears on.

But this father son shot was pretty sweet.

Junior’s antlers are growing.

And it always makes me wonder what the felt feels like.

Naturally there are woodchuck photos.

And some close ups.

We have one lone chipmunk this year.

And yes, those pesky red squirrel babies are still here.

Using our deck railing as a cafeteria.

As well as a toilet.

Yes, I’m talking to you.

Clearly your mother didn’t tell you not to shit where you eat.

Bad form. Very bad…..

My favorite kind of sale!

July 29, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

When the local nursery has a half price and buy one get one free sale in July?

You fill the back of your car.

Find room for some in an already full bed.

And replant the pots that your resident woodchucks munched to stalks.

Hopefully with flowers they don’t like.

And when the nursery extends the sale to the end of the month?

You go back again.

And cram even more flowers in a bed that’s already full just because you can.

While a red squirrel watches.

When you’re done?

You sit back on the barn porch and enjoy an adult beverage before dinner.

And watch the old doe walk up to have a snack.

Life is good.

Deer me.

July 26, 2020 Rivergirl 23 Comments

Okay, if you insist.

I caught a couple of nice shots of our old doe in the field.

I don’t know how many seasons she’s seen, and the poor thing didn’t even blow her winter coat this year.

But she comes for dinner every night.

And brings her kids.

Whose little Frankenstein nubs always make me chuckle.

Everyone gets along well.

Except this one.

Who sticks his tongue out at woodchucks.

I guess everyone has a rude child once in a while.

Don’t look now…..

July 22, 2020 Rivergirl 10 Comments

But there’s a woodchuck right behind you.

The deer was oblivious for quite a while.

But when she finally did realize it….

The interspecies communication did not go well.

Chuck – 1.

Deer – 0.

Critters.

July 18, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

If you’re getting bored of our backyard zoo…..

Tell me.

I won’t stop posting pictures….

But I could probably be talked into just the highlights.

Or then again….

Maybe not.

So feel free to skip these posts if critters aren’t your thing.

I won’t be upset.

But he might.

Out for a stroll.

July 4, 2020 Rivergirl 6 Comments

You never know who’s going to wander up from the woods lately.

The other day….

It was a pair of deer and a pair of turkeys.

One of the turkeys was occasionally headless.

But they all kept pace.

Right up to the feeders for a nosh.

Mother and son.

Baby buck.

June 26, 2020 Rivergirl 10 Comments

Our resident buck with the felt covered mini rack has flown the proverbial coop, which is a shame, because I think most of you…. some of you?…. alright, at least one of you… was enjoying the fuzzy updates on antler growth progress.

But never fear.

Our old doe, who we call pregnant because she always seems to be, has last year’s progeny with her on a daily basis now.

So we’ll start from scratch.

Baby buck antlers.

At this point, they’re just little nubs that he keeps rubbing on trees and rocks.

And can you blame him?

The poor little guy looks like a four legged Frankenstein.

Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.