Born to Be Wild For Real.. Lots of Photos (Dial Up Warning)

[bvar22]

Her name is Blossom.

When she was very young, she said "Eee,... Eee" a lot,
so we started calling her Sweetee, and she responds to that name.

She is a young doe who came to us as a rescue infant in July.
A neighbor called, and asked if we could keep her.

We had a lot of resistance at first.
Raising a deer in not as easy as a puppy or a kitten.
They require a 24/7 Deer Momma.
In some ways, they are even more difficult than Human infants.
We eventually said yes because the alternative was death.


We kept her indoors for the first 10 weeks so she could be close to her Deer Mama (my wife Starkraven),
They slept together downstairs on the floor,
and Starkraven became a 24/7 Deer Mamma.


She was naturally curious about everything.

She dutifully followed her Deer Momma everywhere,
and tugged on the back of her shirt when she wanted attention.


She even developed a relationship with our male mouser, Monkee.
The still greet each other with nose kisses,
and have developed some interesting games.

Tame deer are not uncommon here.
It is legal to keep up to 5 in the state of Arkansas.
Some people keep them in pens (which is sad),
and one neighbor has a full grown doe that still lives in his house which joins a small outside pen.
His wife also became a 24/7 Deer Momma to a rescue fawn, and couldn't separate.
They watch TV together on the sofa.
It IS a hard and dangerous world for wild deer.

We decided we would let Sweetee choose her life after she was big enough to survive on her own.
We built a stable and pen to keep her safe from predators at night,
but decided to let her run free during the day,



...and she LOVES to run,




...and RUN



...and RUN!


I've watched deer run all my life...
run AWAY from me.
This is my first experience of a deer running toward or around me.
They are as awesome in their athletic ability as they are beautiful.


For now, she stays pretty close to the house,

and will join us during the daytime when we are outside.




She hasn't forgotten who her Deer Momma is,

and they still have a very special, close relationship with each other.



Last week, Deer Hunting Season opened in Arkansas,
and we worry about our little girl.

We put an orange ribbon around her neck.
It is made from plastic marking tape that she can break if it gets caught on something,
or won't choke her if she decides to join the deer that run wild.
Lately, we've seen her with other deer that roam around our place.

So far, she has returned home every evening,
but our hope is that she will eventually run with the wild deer,
and maybe return every so often to say "HI"
and get an apple treat.

[AmericaIsGreat]

1. Love it! nm

[shireen]

2. she reminds me a bit of a kangaroo

Several years ago, i was birding with an Australian visitor at work. We startled a deer and she bounded away with quite a jump. He said it reminded him of a kangaroo. When i saw those photos of your little girl running, i was thinking 'kangaroo!'

That last photo, nose on camera, cracks me up! :rofl:


She's lovely. :loveya:

[iscooterliberally]

3. Thanks bvar22! Great post!

:hi:

[truedelphi]

4. Great story. What a lucky lil deer.

The neighbors up the road took in an orphaned deer, and the kids did such a good job with Stewie that it became an ordinary sight to look out the windows and see three or four kids on their small bikes, with one deerlet circling them.

One day when the kids were all gone, I took care of the "baby." He was pleased with me as long as I had a bowl of milk - but when I turned my back on him to go home, he went in front of me and blocked my way, snorting, and sticking out a lower lip in a look of complete disdain and hostility.

I didn't know deer could look angry like that! And he was at a point where in the wild, mom would have probably weaned him.

The pictures are quite a testimony to all you have done. I love the one with the rooster - that has such great character. And the one of your Sweetie running toward you.

Blessings on you and your household and your "baby."

[bvar22]

17. Hi.

Thanks for the kind words.


The relationship between Monkee & Sweetee is fascinating.
They enjoy each others company,


and hang out together in The Woods on occasion.


Monkee occasionally jumps up and grabs Sweetee around the neck.
Sweetee doesn't seem to mind.
They have other games & interactions that are fun to watch.




Keeping Male deer (Bucks) are a whole different story.
We would have said no to a male.

Females have some social skills that allow them to run in herds.
Males are anti-social, and just crankier & meaner than the females.
Confined Bucks have killed their keepers during Rutting Season.




********A Warning to Those Reading This Thread*************

I should have posted a warning in the OP.
Sweetee IS a wild animal, and we are very careful with her.
Most of our interactions with her are out in the open,
and we let her choose to approach us.
Like all deer, she panics easily, and is frantic and powerful in this condition.
Confined deer are a danger to themselves and anyone in the pen if (when) this happens.

We still close her in her pen and sunset,
but after the gate is closed, we don't enter the pen.
We open the gate about 9AM (after the hunters are gone),
but after hunting season, we will leave the gate open so she can come and go at her own choosing.
At that time, we will also lower the fence on the backside to a height she can easily jump
so that we will never be between Sweetee, and the the way out.

While deer appear to be harmless creatures, the number of attacks on humans by deer is on the increase. An attack by a deer can be brutal. Deer antlers can cause puncture wounds. On occasion, deer attacks have been known to result in severe and permanent injury to people and even death. To reduce the risk of being a victim of a deer attack, people are encouraged to observe the following suggestions:

* Never provide food to a deer. When a pattern of regular feeding has been established deer become protective of the food source and may attack those near the food source - even those people providing the food.
* Never, under any circumstance, approach a deer. Deer are wild animals. While they may appear docile, their demeanor can change without warning.
* Be especially cautious of deer with fawns. Mother deer are very protective of their young.
* Male deer, known as "bucks," can attack people without provocation, especially during the "rut" season - October through December. The rut is the time of year when female deer, known as "does," emit a scent that tells the bucks they are ready to breed.
* If you do see a deer, observe it from a distance, preferably from inside a structure or vehicle.



TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES

Deer pose a threat to public safety by the possibility of transmitting diseases to people. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are known to be carried by deer. Laboratory tests indicate that these diseases can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected parasites such as ticks. To help reduce the likelihood of contracting one of these diseases the following measures are suggested:

* Never approach a deer under any circumstance. Touching a deer increases the chances of exposure to disease.
* Never attempt to feed a deer by hand or touch food that a deer has eaten. Touching the saliva of a deer increases the chances of exposure to disease.
* Bring pet food containers inside at night. Leaving food out overnight encourages deer, and other nuisance animals, to rely on humans for food.
* When working in your lawn, landscaping or garden, or when walking or hiking in a wooded area, always wear insect repellent to discourage ticks and other insects from biting.

http://www.ftthomas.org/Deer.html

Deer are truly one of nature's most beautiful creations,
but there are good reasons why they have never been domesticated.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Aww, how cool is that?!

I didn't know deer could be so tame. Good for you for looking after her - hope she stays safe.

[Tikki]

6. Big hugs to Deer Mamma and family and Sweetee..

you all are my heroes.


Tikki

[formercia]

7. Great story and pics.

What a sweetie.

[Blue Owl]

8. Awww, I want one!

I've seen too much grisly roadkill carnage already this hunting season...

[midnight]

9. Thank you for sharing this... I have an apple tree in my yard..

I always rack the apples that have fallen close to the bark so the deer can eat them when they come in my yard, while still keeping the grass cut around the tree... last summer a young doe and my beagle were sniffing each other and walking around each other...They looked like friends... And last week a bigger deer with antlers sat in the grass for a rest one evening... I just love when they come in the yard..... I have to laugh when little kids are over and see them in my yard-they think they are reindeer...

Let us know how things develop.. I especially love the pic with the deer on the lap... So precious...

[bvar22]

18. When we first moved here in 2006,

we planted fruit trees and roses randomly around the cabin.
We would get up at dawn and drink coffee while peeking out of the windows,
watching the deer roam our yard, and congratulate ourselves for Getting Away From It All.
This quickly morphed into angrily chasing them away with canned air horns and shouts
as we realized they were eating everything down to the nub.

We eventually surrendered,
and now the Veggie Gardens, Berries, fruit trees, and anything else WE would like to eat
are behind tall fences, and we have given up on growing roses.
Deer LOVE roses, and that was the first solid food we fed to Sweetee,
rose petals and leaves.

Starkraven has researched ornamentals that deer won't eat,
and still tends an ornamental garden in front with some success.

I guess one of the old Life Maxims is really true:
For everything you get,
you must give something away.

[ellenfl]

10. great job. beautiful 'dear'.

do hunters shoot does?

ellen fl

[FirstLight]

11. awww BAbY! (squeee!)

I want one too! I love the cat and deer pic...that's got to be a real fun relationship to see.

Thanks to you and deer momma for loving her, i hope she stays safe and finds happpiness among her kind too ... but i bet she will always remember you too :loveya:

[OneGrassRoot]

12. +1! n/t

[Red1]

13. Thanks For the Great Pics..

[rhett o rick]

14. Thanks for the post. nm

[FedUpWithIt All]

15. This is incredible!!!

Thank you so much for sharing these. Really wonderful story. Thanks to you and Starkraven for being who you are.

Oh and i love the cat's name. I used to be a huge Monkees fan. lol

[xiamiam]

16. beautiful .thanks for sharing and the photos are just wonderful

i always love your posts anyway..probably because we are in agreement.but this adds another personal dimension..very sweet story

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

19. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

I watched My Life As A Turkey on PBS the other night (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/my-life-as-a-turkey/full-episode/7378/) about a writer who hatched batch of wild turkeys who imprinted him as their mother and raised them to adulthood.

[MuseRider]

20. This is just lovely.

I have spent most of my life observing and learning on my own about animals. Living out here has been simply amazing. My deer interactions have been short or from a distance. This is just so wonderful to see.

I am continually astonished by interactions between animals of a different species. We know so little and we assume so much, such as our superiority. They have a world all their own and a very respectable one at that.

I think it is illegal here to do anything like that but given the chance I would go for it. Main problem would be finding room on the couch for a deer, the dogs and the cats not to mention my husband and myself! Cuddles for all I guess. What could be better than that?

While I will never be able to do what you and Starkraven have done I work to becoming more one with my land. I have so much respect for the work, time and love you put into your life and reclaiming your land, treating all with respect and wonder. Enjoy your deer for years. I would bet she will return periodically for at least several years and maybe longer. What a kind and wonderful thing you have done.

[Sal Minella]

21. Such good medicine for us tired DU folks!!! Thank you!!! n/t

[LWolf]

22. Beautiful...and scary.

There are plenty of deer in my area. In addition to the hunters, the roads take their toll, as well.

I hope your Blossom/Sweetee is able to avoid both.

[bvar22]

24. Thanks.

Roads shouldn't be a problem.
We are pretty far from any decent road,
and the last mile is a rough one lane trail that sometimes requires 4WD.

We do worry about hunters, though we are far from any town, and it is difficult to get back in here.
There are prime hunting areas much closer to civilization.
We have told everyone that lives in our area about Sweetee and the orange ribbon around her neck.
We have good neighborly relations with them, and believe they will watch out for her.
Some have even stopped by to see her.

We have talked about the possibility that she might not return.
If some day she doesn't show up, then so be it.
We will cry and miss her, but we will let her go.
We have done everything we can do short of keeping her in a pen,
and we are unwilling to do that.

[LWolf]

25. I really understand not wanting to keep her captive.

Local deer spend a lot of time in people's pastures around here, coming and going as they please.

[uppityperson]

23. awwwwwww. Thank you

[Remmah2]

26. Six fawns this year in our neighborhood.

My wife wants to dress them up like German Shepherds so the hunters won't bother them. I can only imagine she'll involve me with her scheme.

[inna]

27. Incredibly beautiful; What a fantastic thread, thank you so much for linking!

[dmr]

28. I second that. Awesome & beautiful thread

Thank you for linking to it.
:hi: