We had a lovely conservation, this majestic creature and I. It was early morning and the crisp air of fall enticed me outside to do a bit of gardening before the day got busy. He was admiring my hibiscus and I was admiring his antlers, pointed toes and high heels. He may have been hoping to get a chance to eat some of the tender hibiscus leaves and flowers….if only I would take down the netting.
Okay, so that’s not entirely true. Just minutes before I took this photo, he was aggressively following a small dog whose owner was looking rather afraid as she led her dog to safety. Another neighbour came along, told his wife and dog to stay away while he ran into his house to grab the bear spray. It was at that point when I realized the encounter could end badly. The young mule-deer buck had no interest in my flowers, but was eyeing the cute little dog, Daisie.
This is rutting season and the bucks are increasingly aggressive. Once the buck ran off after threatened with bear spray, we (people and dog) chatted briefly, then I walked into my backyard. It was there where I heard rustling nearby, and ran back out to ask my neighbour to escort me safely to my backdoor.
I live in the city, within a “safe” community. There are about 390 homes surrounded by a fence, with an open entrance. Behind the community is a pond with a designated wildlife sanctuary, full of ducks, geese, sparrows and other birds. It’s a beautiful area in which to walk any time of year. Last year I would walk around the pond even before the sun came up, until I heard about the packs of coyotes chasing the deer, and the deer chasing the dogs within our community.
There are few break-ins, as people look out for each other. We don’t have fences between the houses, and creatively use plants for some privacy.
The neighbour who helped me, along with his wife and dog will be moving away this week. In the year since I moved in we have become good friends — we chat often when I’m outside doing yard work. I am going to miss them, especially Daisie. Just when I get comfortable around someone, they have to leave. That happens a lot in this 45+ community. Most of the residents are older, in their 70s and 80s, enjoying their own place before they need to move into assisted living, long-term care or moving on from this world. Every month there are notices of people who have died, and others who have moved in. This is an ideal area for people whose children have grown, who want a smaller yard, and want the security of other like-minded neighbours.
Life goes on. New neighbours will move in. This buck will find a mate, and in the spring more babies will come along, requiring more of our collective gardens to supply them with fresh food. They will continue to move from one buffet to the next, resting in the shade, protecting their young, and leaving again to search for their next meal.
Neighbours will come and go. And life goes on.
Reflections 