Little ones.

#076

On my way to the barber shop this morning, I saw two fawns in the road about 15 yards from one another. My heart sank. They’d been hit at some point probably early in the morning or last night. Every year around this time, I’m filled the dread of seeing these small critters on the road. This morning was especially tough because there were two.

I hunt and fish, but I’m tenderhearted enough to not ever want to see animals suffer. Death is all around us all the time, but with small things, it just lands differently. There are those that consider deer (and other wildlife) to be nuisance animals. While we face an overpopulation problem with deer, we also have to reckon with the loss of habitat critters are facing, too. Every acre that is cleared, every impervious surface that’s poured, and every road that’s widened bring with it a loss of even more habitat.

On my way home, I stopped and moved these babies out of the road. They looked like they were sleeping, but the long sleep was at hand. At the risk of anthropomorphizing, I wondered if the momma was still nearby and how she was.

While I can’t say speed is a factor, I’ve seen people fly on that road. I’ve seen two wrecks and a handful of other close calls in the last several years there. Of course accidents happen, but please drive carefully and keep an eye out for the little ones.

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Edit: Moments after I published this newsletter, I walked outside to see two fawns nursing while the momma stood there patiently in the rain. A true gift for my heart this morning.

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Give a damn,

- Roger