Columbian black-tailed deer
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
I have yet to figure out if there's a seasonal pattern for when the different groups of deer visit the end of our drive, because it all seems so random. In the past, I've seen groups of females and singular older bucks this time of year. These two young bucks, a first for November, lolled around all day on the barely-there green grass patches and occasionally tangled antlers together. The day after I took this picture, a third young buck joined these two. They made me very nervous as they stood at attention only 10 feet from where I was trying to get into the garage. I've heard various stories of local folks getting into tussles with the deer, to the detriment of people, pets, and cars.
As I was rereading up on Columbian black-tailed deer this morning from all the links I've provided in past IDs, I want to offer kudos to the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife for their excellent "A Sportsman's Guide to Improving Deer Habitat in California". It's very well written.
2 comments:
I find it wondrous that deer would be so at ease in a built up area. Fantastic!
The deer are the reason so many neighbors have elaborately constructed fences. I haven't planted a garden in the sunny front, because I worry the deer would ruin my efforts. It only takes a smiling tourist taking pictures from our driveway to remind me that, yes, I do like having the deer around.
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