another pake
Member
In my part of the world (western Minnesota) winter is finally letting go.
It's not that we had all that much snow, not like the folks out east. Besides, we're used to it here and can handle moving it etc. we actually had less than normal snowfall this year. But the cold came early and stayed long. The lake ice is finally starting to break up. Sloughs and potholes are melting. Ducks are coming back. The over wintering geese and swans are separating from the flocks and flying around in pairs looking for nesting sites. We're starting to hear gobblers in the woods. The deer are starting to break away from their winter herds. Like I said, the snow hasn't been too bad this winter and they've been able to feed all over but they still "yard up" in groups.
The last two days have been crazy windy with sustained 30 - 40 mph and gusts to 50. Not the kind of weather that you usually see animals move in.
My wife and I were having coffee yesterday morning when she said, "Wow, there goes a deer running full speed into the wind." Her head was down like she was being chased, but no tail flagging.
"Maybe a yote." I said. Then out of the thicket came another deer and another and another. Then the first two suddenly changed direction right outside our house (our place overlooks hundreds of rural acres), and headed back downwind, full speed. With that three more joined the first four in what could only be described as deliriously joyful play. We watched, smiling the whole time, as for 30 minutes this remaining winter community exhausted themselves. Back and forth they ran and jumped and kicked and raced, stopping occasionally to look at each other as if to say,
"Life Is Good!"
I know that I think so too.
It's not that we had all that much snow, not like the folks out east. Besides, we're used to it here and can handle moving it etc. we actually had less than normal snowfall this year. But the cold came early and stayed long. The lake ice is finally starting to break up. Sloughs and potholes are melting. Ducks are coming back. The over wintering geese and swans are separating from the flocks and flying around in pairs looking for nesting sites. We're starting to hear gobblers in the woods. The deer are starting to break away from their winter herds. Like I said, the snow hasn't been too bad this winter and they've been able to feed all over but they still "yard up" in groups.
The last two days have been crazy windy with sustained 30 - 40 mph and gusts to 50. Not the kind of weather that you usually see animals move in.
My wife and I were having coffee yesterday morning when she said, "Wow, there goes a deer running full speed into the wind." Her head was down like she was being chased, but no tail flagging.
"Maybe a yote." I said. Then out of the thicket came another deer and another and another. Then the first two suddenly changed direction right outside our house (our place overlooks hundreds of rural acres), and headed back downwind, full speed. With that three more joined the first four in what could only be described as deliriously joyful play. We watched, smiling the whole time, as for 30 minutes this remaining winter community exhausted themselves. Back and forth they ran and jumped and kicked and raced, stopping occasionally to look at each other as if to say,
"Life Is Good!"
I know that I think so too.
