This story is an ongoing saga of a young deer, and his life in an urban and country setting in The Pacific Northwest corner of the USA, near the town of Winlock Washington.  Each month the story will give ongoing details of the life and legend of a young buck Black Tail deer.

Loose Ends

Excerpts by Bonita Meyers

What to do?

Among our deer population this spring is a youngster with a broken front leg. This little guy limps along on a leg so bent our of shape it almost makes a half circle below the knee. He was spotted several weeks ago in back yards up and down our street.  He did not have a broken leg previously.  I believe the leg has healed in this unfortunate position.  He seems totally to trust people which is not a good thing.

He doesn’t bolt when he sees us but continues to graze on the lawn within a few feet of our house. He looks at us watching him and exhibits no fear or concern.  He is also curious about our cats, watching their movements with interest.

We have seen him run with a ragged gait, but he gets around even though it looks awkward and perhaps painful.   He originally was with another youngster his age and size and a mother and sometimes a couple of additional adults. Now he appears alone the last few times we have seen him.   I winder if he is deliberately left alone or if he simply can’t keep up. Perhaps other deer instinctively feel his affliction will draw predators in the form of coyotes, which roam in the wooded areas within and outside of city limits.

Called Fish and Wildlife Departments (Washington State) whose employee said to let nature take its course. Not a very satisfactory answer. She explained a try at capturing and helping the little deer would be more traumatic than just letting him get along best as he can.

Do I believe that?  If people don’t help him – who else will? Our neighborhood Residents are concerned about one small, unimportant to anyone else, little deer.