so i thought i should explain why we were holding a baby deer and interfering with an extremely special newborn.
and then we need to share our very first finished pollinator garden with you!
- and please stay tuned for the winners of 2 Sassafras Farms pollinator gardens!! (winners have been contacted - thanks to everyone who entered!)
so as you may notice, we were doing backyard haircuts when we heard screaming down the back ravine. we have now decided it sounded like a cross between a cat and a goat. but at the top of its lungs.
all 3 of us started running with no hesitation. (nobody had shoes on and nolan was terrified)
curiosity won and he joined us while the screaming continued and things were crashing through the back woods.
FAST FACT: animals use humans (and even yards with dogs) all the time for protection while nursing their young. its cool. i have now been used for protection by grizzly bears (Alberta), bunnies (some became snacks for the dog unfortunately), and now for deer. (hoping it ends better than the bunnies)
we call this little guy, ditch deer.
we never saw what was attacking it. it had small lacerations behind its ear and on the underside of its neck, but barely bleeding.
the humane society agreed it was probably 24 hours old as it was very unsteady on its very long new legs. once it calmed down we walked the entire forest trying to figure out where mom left it but figured where the initial attack happened had to be close.
i sat in the mosquito filled forest 50 feet away to make sure it was safe and after 20 minutes it started calling to mom with a little coo noise so i backed out of the forest and left it alone all weekend.
soooo....the story has to continue. there are hoof marks at the water and we have a wildlife camera up!!!
we will hopefully have some updates!!
UPDATE
mom has been back in the area for the past few months and the neighbors saw mom and a appropriately sized youth with her last week!! looks like ditch deer made it :)
My backyard attempt at a pollinator garden. This year I have more than 50 milkweed plants.