The deer have had a bountiful summer. The rains have been plentiful since June. Mountain flowers grace my yard, in bloom for over one hundred consecutive days this summer. It has been a great time for the wildlife of varying sizes.
In the midst of a no-hunting corridor, many deer wander through my land, but I will admit to prodding them a bit with salt blocks, mineral blocks, even one laden with corn and molasses. They seem to enjoy the blocks, visit daily, and even the fawns partake as the elders allow. I have them scattered a bit to prevent territorial disputes; unless related by blood, only one deer at a time per block. I have added more blocks this year, and the visitors have fully responded in kind.
There are ones I recognize now. The mother with twin fawns, half their spots now gone. The large eight point buck with the black circular marking on his right shoulder. Bouncy-bounce the fawn who does not yet walk, but only hops about, enticing any and all to play (she is greatly ignored).
Yesterday morning there were nine bucks here, all with majestic new antlers, laden in velvet. Were it not the crack of dawn, there would be a photo available.
Bay windows mean I get to watch unimpeded. They notice me move, but whereas they cannot smell me, they seem to have adapted fully to us being neighbors as such.