Monday, October 26, 2009

sad start to the day

As much as I complain about the deer eating stuff in my back yard, I still think they are beautiful and I do enjoy seeing them and I am slightly attached to them because they visit us so often. But I also wish they weren't so bold because in my area they are constantly being hit by cars. I guess they aren't that bright and just don't know any better, so they get scared and bolt out into the road in a state of panic.

This morning I pulled up to my house ready to begin a day of painting, and there was a deer that looked like it had just been hit lying right in the middle of my driveway at the edge of the road. It must have suffered a concussion because there wasn't any blood or broken bones. She was really pretty - her stomach was so clean and white. Anyway the sight of that pretty much ruined my morning. I called animal control and was told that they would pick her up within 48 hours.

I took the recycling out to the curb and as I got closer I couldn't bring myself to look at her. I noticed that there was no smell yet. I went inside and took a picture from the second floor, but I've decided not to post it - that wouldn't be right somehow. I kept thinking about her lying out there in the driveway and about how the animal control people might not come for another day or so, and since I was still wearing the rubber gloves I had put on to stain the threshold, and since she didn't smell at all, I decided to go out and move her over to the side of the driveway.

So when I went out there to move her, she was gone. I figured that animal control must have already been in the area. But then about an hour later when I was inside painting my foyer, animal control came and knocked on the door, wanting to know where the deer in my driveway was. At first he didn't believe me, so I showed him the picture I'd taken.

I guess someone saw that the deer was "fresh" and saw an opportunity to have a couple of months' worth of free meat or something. I felt a little less sad after thinking that something useful might have happened as a result of "my" deer getting killed. I wonder what the animal control people do with all those deer that they pick up every day? The guy who came to my house had two deer that he'd already picked up today.

This deer situation has been getting worse and worse over the past ten years or so. I hope the powers that be will eventually come up with a solution that is both intelligent and humane. As long as they continue to develop every possible inch of space, it's going to continue to be a problem.

7 comments:

Bowie Mike said...

Strange that he wouldn't believe you. Not to make light of it, but I would also refrain from ordering any porked fried rice in your area for a few days!

Kristin said...

Seeing deer by the road really does break my heart. Both driver and deer deserve something better.

Malnurtured Snay said...

I used to live up in northern Baltimore County and I hit or was hit by deer on six separate occasions. The last time totalled my car, alas.

Cyndy said...

Mike - Good point!

Kristin - A friend of mine hit a deer one time. She was heartbroken.

Mal - Wow, six times. That could get really expensive after a while, or even after once. Seems like you're a regular deer magnet. At least there's not much danger of encountering a deer on the Metro.

Barbara said...

How sad! I hate to think of any animal being killed. I hope she didn't suffer too much.

It is increasingly a problem everywhere. I'm not sure what the solution is. I'm always intrigued with the signs that say "Deer Crossing", as though they know to go to the crosswalk before bolting across a busy highway!

LP said...

I really was heartbroken.

Cyndy said...

Barbara - Yes it is very sad. I think they put those signs up at places the deer have been hit. They are creatures of habit with their various routes.

Tom - I know it must be much more devastating to accidentally hit one. Just seeing one that's been hit is bad enough.