Joy

Well, I can't seem to embed this video but it's a must see. A black lab playing with a young deer. Watched it twice myself. Here's the link at least:

http://www.wimp.com/oneball/

It reminds me of another video I put up on a prior post of an elk playing in the middle of the forest in a little pond probably made by a recent rain. This one splashed and danced around, took a break and did it again. It is just the most magical moment that someone (I assume with a camera mounted on a tree) happened to catch. Please check it out if you have a moment.

Love and protect ALL animals, please.

Little Deer Teeth

OK, this is what I live for. I was just walking to my car in the parking lot and had this little encounter with a very pretty (not to mention sociable) doe.




Oh, and those big liquid doe eyes!

When this kind of thing happens, and it happens a lot these days, I think I'm dreaming, and my life could not get any better.... well, if I were living in Paris and drinking cafe creme and writing /reading/dancing all night, or lying on a beach in Hawaii, or living with all the money in the world in a fabulous apartment in New York City, able to give lots of dough away like Bill and Melinda Gates are doing, that would certainly ALSO be great.

But I have to say, when I am with animals, I completely forget there is anything else in the world. I've tried to describe this before but I think I fail to convey it well. When I was walking to my car I probably had my mind on a million things. I had just been at a meeting, needed to make some notes when I got home, was thinking of the next place I had to go, and how I'd fit in several other errands and phone calls. I was probably composing an e-mail or two and thinking about canceling or setting up another appointment too (It's been a REALLY busy time).

But when I saw these three does enjoying the fresh air and sunshine on the lawn, I became instantly and completely engaged on all levels with the here and now. Does that ever happen to you?

If I am hungry, have to pee, need to be at an appointment, have something sad going on in my life, or there are a stack of bills waiting to be paid, they all become suspended while I am in communion with these fascinating creatures. No wonder they have such powers to delight even the most hardened criminal, heal hearts or bodies as they make theraputic rounds at old folks homes, hospices, childrens hospitals, and do their rehabilitative magic for the disabled-- not to mention those stories in the news of special companion dogs that powers to warn their masters before the onset of a heart attack or the hospice cats that take up residence on the bed of a person who is about to pass away, holding vigil.

There is something else going on behind the veil, and I'm not sure I will ever know what it's all about. But for me to stop everything and focus completely is no minor feat. And an animal will do it to me every single time. Now that is quite a miracle of nature.

Does it work that way for you too? Do you have your own amazing results when you have an animal encounter?

Have You Ever Seen a White Deer?

My friend Kurt, who lives near Charlottesville, Virginia, and gave me the link to last post's bear cam, also sent me these pictures of a white deer that has been visiting his back yard since spring.
Thank you Kurt! I've never seen a white deer, or anything close to it. I assume it's very rare. He thinks it's a doe, and that the other deer who is a little bigger seen with her is a sibling, possibly male. I wonder, do any of you have the ability to call that?
This one deer had been missing for about 6 weeks and Kurt and his wife were concerned that a hunter had gotten it, because it is a prize to get one with this coloring. He was so happy to see her in the trees again, even though it was hard to see her in the snow.
Thank you Kurt! It's a real treat to see this.

Precious Tiny Boy -Deer

I mentioned a few posts back that I got to feed a tiny baby deer for the first time. Well here he is. His little legs and hooved were so delicate. I have never seen a deer this small before, but I hear this is small as baby deer go.



I know, I could have filmed so much more. And who doesn't want to see more baby deer getting fed with a bottle? Remember my videos are quick because I have work to do. It's a privilege to take a quick shot for my own memories of all these extraordinary experiences I've been so blessed to have, but the animal's care and comfort is paramount. So a little rather than nothing adds to my descriptions, however rushed they have been in the last many months.  I gave this little guy a bottle, but he wasn't eating so well.  He didn't feel good this day.  I was taught that it's good to stand them up rather than feed them on your lap or held between your legs while you sit on the floor.  And that the bottle has to be raised just so, so that his neck will be outstretched as he drinks, and that I should lightly cover his eyes with my free hand (I needed at least three arms to do all this), as all of that would imitate his normal nursing behavior... poking his nose under the leg or at the belly of his mother, who in the wild, would be standing and even moving around. 

I was about to write that this was the first time I've been this close to or fed a deer, but I have to remind myself of things I did which seem like a lifetime ago. I have been close to and fed a deer in an entirely different way. I was visiting Japan -- may have been in Kyoto, near all the temples.  I can't even remember when but I'd guess it was about 18- 20 years ago.  I was in a park and was told that the deer were tame, that you could offer them something to eat and they would bow to you (it being Japan).  Well, all I had was a cookie, something I would not offer an animal now, but as I mentioned, this was like another life.... Sure enough an adult deer came shyly up to me, and indeed bowed both before and after I gave it the treat. 

I was blown away then, and was again in awe to be assisting this sweet little fawn.   Sometimes I can't believe what I get to do when I go to help these creatures we share our lives with.  I may be cleaning poop and scrubbing cages and doing dishes in addition to giving away hours that could be spent in many other ways, some of them income earning.  But it never fails that I always feel I get more than I could ever give. I know you know what I mean.  And in that sense it's a common equation, but for me it still holds as one of the great mysteries of life...

'Twas Nice to Know Ye, Opossums

After taking in row after row of baby opossums and a few adults this Spring at the rehab center, most of them have grown up and gotten fat and healthy enough to be released back into the wild. I have been taking very quick little video moments because there is too much work to do. But I've come to appreciate these animals through watching them and want not only to preserve those moments for myself, but to help others come to appreciate them too. I often go home and study whatever we've gotten in, looking them up in books and on Google.

To waive au revoir to a few... First off, a mama with her baby crawling. Notice Mom has her mouth open to show her many teeth, though she lies there motionless -- "playing opossum" -- while her baby, innocent to any converns about my presence, gleefully takes a crawl on the giant mountain called Mom. It's quick but good enough.



I know , a two second snippet, but you were warned, lol. The one below is longer and clearer to see. After cleaning a row of tanks of a bit older babies I put in their esbilac (puppy milk mixture) and cheerios so they can learn to lap and eventually eat on their own. These guys did a good job and were pretty darn cute in the process.


Now see, did you ever think of opossums as cute before? I know they still may not be someone's cup of tea.... But I have to say, if you spend some time observing an animal, let alone caring for it, you come to really see it's merits. Even if it's a spider -- CLICK HERE to visit my friend Bindu for a great proof of that (I do NOT like spiders, not at all, but her Ode to a Spider post made me see I could really appreciate them).

Reminds me of this quote:

"You can't hate someone whose story you know"

....applied to the animal kingdom of course. I googled like mad to find to whom I might attribute that quote to no avail.

As Spring turns to summer, different species complete their birth cycles. Babies who once dominated the center go out and entirely different baby animals arrive in need. I heard that this week we got in two bob cats and two fawns -- I saw a little Bambi come in, absolutely newborn with limp, long legs and an adorable little face, as someone carted her off in their arms to check all her vitals. I wish I wasn't so busy this week and going out of town next week, as those would be two really amazing babies to look after!!