Outdoors - Safe at home

   I have noticed a change in wildlife activity during the past couple of months. There seems to be more coyotes in the area as well as other predators such as bob cats, raccoons, and opossums. We have no shortage of predators. In the early evening, just after dark, it is not uncommon to hear coyotes howling and yipping not too far away. At the same time, we have seen deer and turkeys closer to the house than ever. It causes me to wonder if there is a connection.

   For several years, a doe has had her fawn and hidden it on the face of the dam. This is only about one hundred fifty yards from the house. We enjoyed watching her come and go and feed her baby. We assumed she parked her fawn there to be close enough to the house to keep predators away but far enough away to not be bothered by the dogs. Jag, the terrier, has long since given up on chasing deer. With age has come the wisdom, he can not catch them so he might as well save his energy for something important. Billie, the poodle, would enjoy chasing the deer but is stopped by his electronic collar. When deer get close, he will run to his boundary and bark ferociously. The deer have learned they are safe past a certain line and only watch him with indifference.

   This spring, the doe on the dam is back. We have not seen a fawn yet which may yet be born. Another doe is hanging around just past the little shed. She has been coming and going but spends most of her time about sixty yards from the house which is only ten yards past Billie’s boundary. When Billie sees her, he barks at her, but she lays down and ignores him.

   This morning, up by raspberries, I spooked a hen turkey off her nest. She has set up housekeeping quite close to the house. It is not like there are a shortage of places to nest around the farm in timbers, fence rows, or hay fields. She also must feel a level of security living near civilization.

   We will not have a problem with wildlife moving ever closer to the house if they do not get too pushy about it. When the deer start eating the flowers on the porch or the turkeys attack the green beans next to the house, we may have to have a discussion about the living arrangements.  I can understand animals such as bluebirds, orioles, and wrens being attracted to the safety of the house but find it unusual turkeys and deer will also seek safety from us. Apparently, they feel we pose less of a threat to them than their natural predators. They feel safe at home with us nearby.