Saturday, August 29, 2015
Deer likes my yard
I saw this deer early this morning along Wellesley. He was casually munching someone's marigolds. After the storm he decided to settle in my yard. He seemed to be looking toward the kitchen window even before I caught his eye; maybe he liked the smell of my vegy chili. He's not getting any of it.
Two views from different windows. This dude is LARGE, almost horse-size. I don't feel like messing with him, so he can sleep there if he wants.
Tried calling Animal Control, but they don't deal with non-domestic animals, and the department that does is closed.
5:30: He got up and sauntered elsewhere.
Observation based on an N of 2**: Deer seem to be remarkably streetwise and humanwise. They figure out how cars move and how humans behave, and they aren't constantly surprised by predictable behavior. In this respect they are on the same IQ level as dogs, and way above cats and climate "scientists", who are unable to process sequences. The orange cat I've mentioned and pictured often has wandered around the neighborhood for 5 years, sees me daily, and hangs out in my yard almost daily. You'd think he would recognize me as a non-threatening and non-interesting item, the way neighborhood dogs do after a few days of acquaintance. Nope. Cats always look at you with complete alien puzzlement. "What is this strange vertical object? I've never seen one before! What will it do? I need to be ready for anything!" I've concluded that cats survive solely because of their unique athletic abilities, not because of their brainpower.
= = = = =
Correction after some googling: This is clearly a mule deer, and the absence of antlers probably marks it as female. So I apologize for calling her a him. I know less about ruminants than they know about me!
= = = = =
**Footnote on N of 2: A different deer hung around the neighborhood last year. Not a mule deer, an archetypal Bambi. Spotted sides, tufted tail, little ears. Showed the same level of street smarts.
9/24 update: Looks like she's still around town, though I haven't seen her since that day. Someone posted this pic without location on the SpokaneNews Facebook page. Appears to be in Audubon Park.
10/22: Another bunch of sightings on the Facebook page. Clearly this deer, and her entire family, are well known in this part of town!
Tried calling Animal Control, but they don't deal with non-domestic animals, and the department that does is closed.
5:30: He got up and sauntered elsewhere.
Observation based on an N of 2**: Deer seem to be remarkably streetwise and humanwise. They figure out how cars move and how humans behave, and they aren't constantly surprised by predictable behavior. In this respect they are on the same IQ level as dogs, and way above cats and climate "scientists", who are unable to process sequences. The orange cat I've mentioned and pictured often has wandered around the neighborhood for 5 years, sees me daily, and hangs out in my yard almost daily. You'd think he would recognize me as a non-threatening and non-interesting item, the way neighborhood dogs do after a few days of acquaintance. Nope. Cats always look at you with complete alien puzzlement. "What is this strange vertical object? I've never seen one before! What will it do? I need to be ready for anything!" I've concluded that cats survive solely because of their unique athletic abilities, not because of their brainpower.
= = = = =
Correction after some googling: This is clearly a mule deer, and the absence of antlers probably marks it as female. So I apologize for calling her a him. I know less about ruminants than they know about me!
= = = = =
**Footnote on N of 2: A different deer hung around the neighborhood last year. Not a mule deer, an archetypal Bambi. Spotted sides, tufted tail, little ears. Showed the same level of street smarts.
9/24 update: Looks like she's still around town, though I haven't seen her since that day. Someone posted this pic without location on the SpokaneNews Facebook page. Appears to be in Audubon Park.
10/22: Another bunch of sightings on the Facebook page. Clearly this deer, and her entire family, are well known in this part of town!Labels: Heimatkunde
¶ 4:50 PM
