Venison on the hoof

The photo isn't up to my sister's standard, but considering it was through the kitchen window (with Birdie trying to leap out), and pouring rain, I figured it was worth a try.

We may live in the middle of our small coast community, but we have to share the space with local wildlife. Quite a variety manage to traipse through the yard at one time of year or another. The ones who think they OWN the place are the resident deer.

Every June we can count on a doe or two showing up with one or two fawns. This year it was both. Plus a buck who had obviously been raised in town, and a couple more single doe, and some yearlings from last year. The past two weeks or so, the yard flowers, plum tree, and garden greens have attracted a lot of attention from them.

A couple nights ago they got me involved in a middle-of-the-night adventure (in the rain), rescuing one of the fawns who had managed to get stuck in the garden area and was bleating like crazy right under my window. Sounded like a broken squeaky toy. His mama needs to teach him that's a two-way fence, 'cuz I'm not getting up 3:15 a.m. and slogging out for anymore gate opening exercises.

So this afternoon, it was no surprise to look in the backyard and see our lovely three-point buck, who has recently shed the velvet from his antlers, bedded down for the rainy afternoon under the maple tree outside the dining room window. About 30 feet away, the mama and twins from this year were also snoozing away the wet afternoon.

Wet grass doesn't mean a thing to them. Their hollow guard hair and thick undercoat is perfect rain gear and insulation. True Oregon coast weather-proofing!

I did mention out the window, that hunting season was just around the calendar corner...if they are smart, they'll stay in town. After all, what do the woods have to offer that we don't have right here in our back yard? With fresh strawberries on top.