If you live and drive in Washington, DC, especially if you use the roads that thread through Rock Creek Park, you might have noticed that our deer are acting strange. They are coming into residential neighborhoods, and it's not unusual to see a group of them far from the Park on a neighbor's front yard. And they are running around, flirting, cavorting and acting downright silly. Loopy even!
Well, the Park Service reminds us that it's mating season, usually the first two weeks in November. The little guys are loopy, not on Grey Goose, but horny loopy - on hormones. They are all looking for action and not looking where they are going!
Last night I was driving along Broad Branch Road, and there was a buck lookin' for love in very wrong places. He was standing in the middle of the road, assuming I'd stop my car without hitting him. As I got closer, I saw he was in the lane with oncoming traffic, and I saw a line of headlights heading right toward him - and he wasn't moving! I started to flash my brights on and off to alert the cars that were coming around the corner. I didn't hear any screeching of brakes or other mayhem, so I'm assuming that deer and drivers worked it out and that Bambi's boyfriend didn't wind up as venison stew! Maybe he even got lucky.
Every year, there are many accidents involving driver vs. deer, causing lots of damage to both cars and their drivers. It doesn't do a lot for the deer either!
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Pat Kennedy, author of "The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate" , has been selling homes in the Washington, DC area for over 25 years. She's licensed in DC, Maryland & Virginia
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Hi Pat! Great advice for these beautiful creatures who have been removed from their habitat by our massive development.
Of course, I have a story! I was standing in the front living room of a home that has a very large picture window overlooking a gorgeous acre front lawn early one evening with a client. She said to me, "I'm just going to wait for my sign from God as to whether or not I'm going with this one or the other one." I was facing the window and she had her back to it--as soon as she finished her sentence, I caught a beautiful deer in the front yard out of the corner of my eye and said, "Could that be your sign?" She turned around and nearly fell backwards--praising the Lord and repeating, "YES, this is it!"
Unfortunately our little bambi and bambietes have not followed the lead of the chickens and learned how to cross the road. This time of year tough for both cars and deer.
We live in an area where deer roam freely also. Lots of cars get damaged by hitting deer. We see them all over the golf course and in our yard. Pretty little things and my husband says he's going deer hunting!
Sort of a new spin on the "deer in the headlights" look. Fun post, Patricia. Geez,all the natural hazards to wrorry about.
Jeff
Bambi in love. I knew you liked these erotic posts Patricia. You're finally showing that you can write romance in addition to your superbly funny and sharp wit. I am so parked for more of this side of Pat.
Pat, I guess they are all pumped up on hormones ! Thanks for the reminder. Whenever we go out into the county we always see the deer here and there ! Such beautiful and graceful creatures ! Everyone needs to be a little more careful during mating season !
Hi Pat...I have also come across two fox as well as several squirrels lately. We have to be careful of the deer and all these other creatures. They don't seem to be watching out for us!
Thanks for the reminder to everyone.
Kate
I saw a deer across the street yesterday here in the other Washington. In Alaska they have to worry about the moose.
Great, now I know why three deer have tested my brakes on the truck in the last two days. 8>)
Patricia, we have lots of deer accidents in our area. My daughter just saw one yesterday. She hit a deer herself when she was in High School. Her school started early so it was dark. She was in a Ford F150 pick up. The deer went up down she drove over it and it did NO DAMAGE to the truck. There was a little deer hair below the truck; that was it. She called me in hysterics. She had a wonderful high school counselor who let her talk her way through it. She was very upset about the deer but when they see those lights and run in front there's nothing you can do. I'm just glad that she didn't swerve in to traffic.
Pat this is so (not really but kinda) funny - growing up in Michigan; often when on vacation in Upper Michigan we were worried about hitting a Deer. But that was way out "in the woods". Deer live "in the woods" right? Then last year; I was less than 5 miles from the White House and ALMOST HIt a Deer ! I was amazed! I was hardly "in the woods"; but in the middle of DC.
I guess he was just looking "for a date" LOL !!!
Pat- How interesting! I lived there so many years and did not know deer lived in the park. I drove those roads many a dark night with never a thought of encountering deer or I would have been terrified. Neither can I reember reports of any accidents involving deer. Maybe there are more of them now or they were introduced after I left - I won't say when.
"It doesn't do a lot for the deer either!" Pat, I knew I liked you for a good reason... that is an enormous understatement and SO "not right"! I can always count on your posts to make me smile after a LONG day! Thanks.
In Michigan it it open season nearly every day we have so many deer. In a couple of days it will be firearm deer season and they will all be stirred up by the hunters in the woods. Always a dangerous time to be driving here.
Pat, This is a great reminder and with hunting season starting soon you will need to be careful on the back roads too.
Where you live, I would be more worried about hormonal politicians. They are everywhere including airport bathrooms. (ROFL)
I didn't realize there were that many deer in the DC area. I am used to seeing them here, but I live in the middle of the woods. Looking out my bedroom window this morning, I saw 3 down by the road. Unfortunately, a few years ago, I struck a deer that jumped out on the highway. Not good for either my car or the deer.
Pat - Johnny Lee shared it so beautifully....: "Looking for love in all the wrong places......" I have seen my share.......they spend time in my yard........they wander in my fairway.....they are here, there and everywhere..............that is not a bad thing.
Debe, now that was a good sign!
Gary, yeah, it's kind of pathetic! Vicarious erotica through the local deer population! Time to get a real boyfriend!
James, the photo in my post was taken on the corner of 17th and Varnum Street NW - a couple of miles from the White House and a short block from a major traffic artery.
And Hey! shooting at these poor guys now? At least let them enjoy mating season before you turn them into stew and pate!
Pat - when I lived in Germany we had to watch out for deer on the back roads all the time!