8.4.08

Columbian Black-tailed Deer

Last evening we were taking a drive through all the newly built area across the inlet from where we live, and I no longer think our place is that steep. We can at at least navigate our driveway with little difficulty. As we were trying to negotiate with one rather sharp incline, we were very much put in our place by three young bucks who had been browsing on the neighbourhood rhododendron buds. I understand rhododendrons are particularly pleasing morsels for taste buds starved after the winter blanket of snow, and this year that blanket is staying fairly close to the border between forest and development. These Black-tailed Deer were totally unafraid of our car, and after cleaning out one front garden close to the road they came out in front of our car and sauntered up to the next likely destination. We saw them skip across a gully onto a beautiful new, pristine lawn. They cavorted and chased each other in this idyllic little 'clearing' and I shudder to think what the owner is going to have to say when he/she sees the gouge marks resulting from the need for traction across the soft, newly planted earth.

I look forward to adding photos.

A second animal living in the woods next to us that has been too elusive for photographic capture is the bobcat. We have one regular female bobcat with the upright short tail, and the second we presume to be her 'son' as it has a long tabby lowered tabby tail. We wonder at the cat that mated with this female as they are at least twice the size of normal house cats.