Deer's News

COTW endeavours to bring you news from those who don't tend to make their way into conventional media. Today, news from Deer, whom I met while striding through the light forest of Maplewood Flats. Since she wasn't going anywhere for a while, I sat down too and had a chat. 

COTW: I'm grateful for your time and welcome, Deer. Blessings to you and yours.

Deer: Thanks for being quiet, also thanks for your interest. Blessings to all your relations.

COTW: What's been going on around here lately?

Deer: As you see, the grass has been growing. That's good.

COTW: Tasty?

Deer: Comfortable, actually. I'll stick to brambles and shrubs when I'm hungry. The shoots are still nice and tender. Try some!

COTW: Indeed, it's pleasant to chew on young bramble leaves! (Note: at this point I actually did chew some bramble leaves, to be agreeable at first, then because they actually taste good).

Deer: Also have you noticed? The Twinberry is flowering. It's amusing to Towhee. The Bigleaf Maple is in flower too; good hunting ground for warblers looking for insects: Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and their congeners.

The Twinberry mentioned by Deer

Bidleaf Maple flowers

COTW: You seem pretty relaxed. Haven't met any predators lately?

Deer: Cougar came through recently [as reported by COTW], but it's not a regular phenomenon. You never know, so I listen to the rustles in the thicket. Also Bobcat is around a lot. I need to look out for them too, seeing as I'm pretty weak.

COTW: Why's that?

Deer: Let me show you [gets up]. I have what's been called "deer hair loss syndrome". Appropriate. Also, an understatement. I've been scratching and rubbing a lot, it's these european deer lice. They're terrible. We black-tailed deer and other mule deer are most affected. We're hypersensitive, see. White-tailed deer not so much. Bummer. My mom has it too.

Deer scratching, showing symptoms of "deer hair loss syndrome"

Deer: Dude you make me nervous when you sit so still. At this time when the light is fading I can't see you when you're still, you know? My sight isn't as good as yours, so knowing you're there but not seeing you is freaky.
COTW: OK sorry about that. I'll have some more blackberry leaves.

Deer: You do that, I'll be on my way. Been resting for a while before you got here.

COTW: Thanks for sharing the news of the forest! I wish you the best with your lice problem. See you around!

Deer: Alright. Keep your ears sharp. 

***Translation from Deer language by COTW***