Thursday, August 26, 2010

Thursday Thirteen

1. Deer like Cheerios. I learned this at 7 a.m. as I watched a doe successfully fight off several other deer while she stood over the stale Cheerios I had tossed out for the birds. Once the other deer had given up, she ate like they were the best thing she'd ever tasted.

2. Deer fight by nipping at one another with their teeth and by flailing their hooves. Bucks charge with their antlers only during mating season.

3. I think my totem might be the deer. Deer are very curious animals, always watching, looking and occasionally investigating that which puzzles them. They have been known to look in the windows of my house.

4. If deer is my animal totem, then this means I should maintain my innocence and gentleness and be open-hearted with others, according to animaltotem.com.



5. The deer around here are called white-tailed deer, otherwise known as Odocoileus virginianus or the Virginia deer.


6. While deer are lovely to look at and fun to watch, they do a lot of damage to the hay fields. Herds of deer can decimate an alfalfa field almost overnight. They also are hard on fences; if they find a weak spot they will go through the fence instead of jumping it, and eventually the wires will come loose from the posts because of the deer's constant movement and tugging.

7. A herd of deer apparently have one doe as look-out. She will always spot me. If I have not startled her, but am like a shadow against the house, she will move toward me, slowly. She will stamp a front hoof to get my attention. She will move a step or two closer, watching to see if I move. She will snort at me, stamp some more, and then bolt, her white tail waving an alert to the oblivious grazing herd, who will then run off as well.

8. Sometimes when I sit outside and play the guitar, the deer will come out to listen.

9. The male deer, called a buck or a stag, has horns that are initially covered in a velvet skin. About this time of year the buck sheds this skin by rubbing his horns against trees or other hard objects. The action leaves the horns looking bloody and shredded.

10. Bucks also fight one another for their territory, but only during mating season. It is a rather noiseless event (which I have actually seen and filmed, though it was some years ago) aside from the sound of the horns clashing. They charge at each other, heads down, and crash together. They do this until one gives up and leaves the area.

11. At other times, bucks run together. I usually see four or more at a time.

12. Does are more solitary, unless they have fawns. Then they seem to move together in pairs. I have always thought that was so they would have a babysitter.

13. A herd of deer, then, is really a meeting of smaller groups of deer or single deer, all of whom have decided that our pasture field is the best place for a meal.



Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; the list of folks who play is located here. This is my 153rd time to play.

16 comments:

  1. Some great facts about Deer! Who knew they liked Cheerios! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. They really are beautiful.

    Have a great Thursday!
    http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/08/happy-19-us-women-we-do-matter/

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't want to see them in my yard because of my garden. I have a friend (part native) who calls himself Deerheart. I have held a deer heart in my hand. It was beautiful and like ours, I imagine.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I watched a group of deer just across the road from us yesterday morning. Two doe and 3 fawn who were romping, jumping and playing.... until the doe spotted me on my front porch and then they all scampered into the woods... Love watching the young ones play.

    Di

    ReplyDelete
  5. what a great post, I learned something new about deers!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I loved your T-13 about deer, enjoyed the pictures and learning more about these beautiful animals. A stupid question...I followed your link about totem animals. Are they only animals in the wild or can they be domestic animals?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great great list.

    I love deer. I love watching them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved the photos, beautiful! Having a deer look in the window would so freak me out though. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great pictures. We have a young doe and two fawns in our area, though I have not seen them in a while now. Haven't seen my hawks, either. Probably because it's too hot during the day and I don't do crack of dawn. lol

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful pictures !
    When I was a child, my grandpa used to take me at 4 or 5 am out in the woods in Germany to observe deers ! What an event for a little girl !

    ReplyDelete
  11. How beautiful ! It reminds me when I was a little girl, my grandpa used to take me early mornings in the woods in Germany to show me deers. What an event !

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the idea of the deer listening to you playing the guitar! What an idyllic life yu lead!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a lovely thing to be able to watch from your window. A little piece of heaven.
    Happy T13!

    ReplyDelete
  14. We see a lot of deer close to where we live. I've even seen a few while running. I didn't know any of the deer facts before now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your deer pictures! The deer around here are so skittish, you can't get anywhere near them. So many people hunt in this area, the deer have learned not to trust people.

    ReplyDelete
  16. COOL 13!!! I learned stuff I didn't know!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for dropping by! I appreciate comments and love to hear from others. I appreciate your time and responses.