Deerly Beloved

Fawn Haven, this hillside I call home, is prime real estate for local wildlife.  There are old-growth pines, mature oak, maple, locust, ash, elm, quaking aspen (poplar) and more ~ an understory of old heirloom roses, elderberries, choke cherry, raspberries, blueberries, and a forest floor that holds more nutrition for wildlife than I'd even imagined.  While we have tried to "tame' a small portion of the area for our homestead, the majority is as it was hundreds of years ago ... with only the addition of a 'farm pond' that serves the wildlife as well.  I know, I watched the Great Blue Heron fly off with a bass fry yesterday.  I also find the shells from fresh-water mussels from time to time... near the pond, on the top of rocks, and even in my flower bed.  Hmmm, maybe it was a raccoon eating the lily buds too? Of course, it may be the fawns ... after all, there is a steady stream of deer here on the hill!! Peg has been coming around often and seems to be doing okay. A bit thin possibly, but she is putting a bit of weight on that maimed leg, and has no difficulties walking, or running, if she feels the need.

Having lived here more than 20 years, I know diversionary feeding helps keep the critters away from the garden which is fenced though not electrified. I also employ other tactics, including planting mint (oops, mistake: shoulda contained that ...) & garlic, and shredding Irish Spring soap into some of the perennials that the deer love to eat.

Some shrubs must be fenced in especially over winter though. The cats help keep small critters out of the garden and flower beds too, as much as I sometimes dislike that fact. The cub is aware of Shadow's presence in the thicket, but they seem to co-exist pretty well!

Anyhow, my point is that the wildlife that lives here takes advantage of the amenities I provide, but they would be and indeed were here without them.  My effort is to try to carve out a bit of room for humans in an area of abundant, healthy wildlife.  Buddy's appearance last year may have been a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience to that end.  He was here almost daily, for most of the summer months and returned early this spring.  But I have not seen him in several weeks now.  He is doing what healthy male bears do ... roaming wild and free and hopefully mating for the first time this summer.  I hope I see him again this year, and I hope I can recognize him when I do!

This year's cub is similarly appearing almost daily.  I think he originally came around with his Mama, so he is more at home from the get-go.  I don't know if it is his Mama, or another BIG bear that stopped by last night, but it was just dusk when I saw the large black shape, which I was not able to capture well from the living room window in very low light, but which the trail cam caught in infrared.

I am grateful that the bears bless me with their presence, and their good behavior.  As I have said on many occasions,  were they to devour my garden entirely, I would not be angry with the critters.  They were here first.  I've documented at least six different bears so far this year, and have also observed fox and rabbits on the trail camera videos.  I'm still HOPEing to catch something more unusual (like, a bobcat, or cougar??) but with the grace of the Almighty I have lots of time; with the blessing of Mother Nature, I'll have plenty of guests at the Hard Rock Diner.

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"We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and the winding streams with tangled growth, as 'wild'. Only to the white man was nature a 'wilderness' and only to him was the land 'infested' with 'wild' animals and 'savage' people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with blessings of the Great Mystery..."

-Chief Luther Standing Bear of the Oglala band of Sioux 

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