Deer Stories continued.................. What do Deer think ? It seems like a frivolous question and maybe it is, but the more I see these amazing critters the more I am convinced deer know a lot more about us than we do about them. Now I know deer are deer, but there is something about the deer in Shaver lake thats different.

Don't tell me they don't think either. All you need do is look that beauty in the eye and see the twinkle looking back at you to know there is something there that knows something you don't. And tell me this, how do they know the lab isn't coming out. I was looking out my Shaver Lake living room window this morning when six beauties matrialized ( it is amazing that you can be looking right at them, not see them and then suddenly poof they are there) as if they were beamed down from the star ship enterprise. Our lab had only come in from her morning patrol five minutes earlier. And she didn't even do one of her normal morning racing here and there routines where she is convinced she will find a deer behinfd every cedar tree. And never does. I have to agree with her I know they are there to, but some how they are invisible unless they want to be seen.

Deer are known for being able to almost see through walls and I believe they can hear a Sugar Pine straw gently float to the ground at a hundred yards. I will admit that Shaver and Huntington Lake deer may be a little different than your every day foothill and common mountan deer. Any way, back to my morning herd. I put out a pumpkin to see if it would interest the deer. I know they can't stand it. They don't want me to know they haven't figured out a way to open it yet. I saw them in a group eye talking about the pumpkin this morning. These deer aren't immune from a touch of vanity and pride. The big ones kept pointing their ears at each other and I finally figured out one was saying opening a pumpkin is so easy a turkey could do it. I don't know if you know much about wild turkeys, but there ain't nothing dumb about those feathered critters. Thus you can seen the vanity coming to the surface here. Now it could be they were just amusing themselves at my expense, or maybe they were just trying to impress the little ones. Right after the largest doe pointed her ears my way the biggest fawn started pawing away or maybe I should say hoofung away at the pumpkin.

After a few minutes they all acted like they lost interest in the pumpkin and started to file over to our cabin. Don't think for a minute I don't know what they are up to. This is really a poor charade. I know they couldn't wait for me to head into the real estate office so they could all go back and get serious on opening that pumpkin. How do the deer know the lab won't suddenly burst out the front door into their midst. They know ........I know that much. I guess its possible I may have said something without realizing it to Buddy our Flame Point cat about leaving, though I sure don't remember saying anything. That would explain how they knew I wouldn't be leaving for ten minutes. A couple of the bigger does even had a go at my black oil Sun Flower seed feeder for maybe five minutes and then leisurely wandered into a cedar stand. One moment you are looking at them and the next instant you aren't.

It couldn't have been a minute before I opened the front door...... they were gone. No trace and no evidence except for the pawed pumpkin. How do the deer do that ? I am starting to believe there may be hobbits or elves about. Everone knows an elf can talk to animals and hobbits have a tremendous respect for deer ever since Bilbo and the dwarves were lured from their path in Fangorn Forest and nearly starved to death. It was pity that led the deer to send the wood elves to find the lost and starving folk. So hobbits have warm feelings to this day for the deer, though it was the that actually led them from the path. Remember how strongly he admonished the hobbit and dwarves that to leave the path would lead to disaster and maybe worse. I guess being saved from starvation and spiders was enough for the hobbits to forgive the deer. The dwarves on the other hand have real hard time forgetting what the deer did and to this day you will never see deer invited into the many tunnels the drarves have delved under the mountains. I know no one in these parts has ever seen or even heard of deer and dwarves socializing.

This Deer Story will be continued.............

Squirrell Stories

This subject may not be as exciting as some of the more noted animals at Shaver Lake, but there isn't a more active critter anywhere save the Hummingbird. We probably have fifteen Douglas squirrels within a 100 feet radius of our cabin. They look for every opportunity to be friendly. The Shaver Lake Douglas squirrel is noted for inviting itself inside your cabin. It is of course a huge mistake to encourage them in for any reason. Once in getting them out can lead to a path of destruction unparalleled even by teenage standards. The California Douglas squirrel is fearless which sometimes gets them in trouble with dogs and especially cats. I have seen these little guys hang on a cedar a foot above the ground taunting my Lab..........big mistake since she can jump six feet straight up and loves to play the game.

If you feed these little critters you can pay big time should you stop the feeding. They recognize pretty quickly where the food comes from. They have seen the human bring the chewables from the garage many times. So when you stop feeding them they often eat a whole in the garge door or wall and head in to look for the good stuff.

By the way these little guys are around all winter so we feed them year round and probably a little more in winter. They ceratinly are a joy to watch when playing or courting. They turn into acrobats and contortionists and can be seen leaping twenty feet to reach the next tree.

If you really want to be a hit with these critters put out some unsalted roasted peanuts. We have one little guy that waits in a tree thirty yards from our deck each morning. When I line up the peanuts on the rail he climbs down the tree runs across the gound then up a fir to the deck takes one peanut and returns the same route to store the nut. He will make this trip as many times as needed to get all the nuts. He of course sometimes has to battle the blue jays who also love the peanuts.

Lets hear your Shaver Lake Douglas squirrel story.

Deer Stories

Amazing critters abound at Shaver Lake and for that matter all the surrounding communities including Huntington Lake. Well for that matter all of CA. is an animal paradise.

Where to start when it comes to deer at Shaver Lake. Whether it is slamming on the brakes when two bound across in front of your auto or cataching a glimpse through the pines as a doe and fawn nibble away at Dogwood berries. I don't hunt and the deer seem to instinctively know that and often show no or little fear when I come across them on my many hikes. The current logging activity in Dogwood has affected them as many of their favorite resting places have been disrupted or destroyed. The deer though is a hardy animal and for the most part they have found new places to settle in. We have always had deer on our lot and may have more as we aren't planning to log our property. We have opted to selectively remove trees and clear underbrush in an effort to keep the area as much like it has always been as possible. Before our new lab came to live with us it wasn't unusual to have ten or more feeding away in front of our eyes. Though she is a Yankee my wife has the same ferver I do when it comes to critters and nature. Back to the lab she has successfuly stopped the rountine deer traffic during the day. But night in the mountains and at Shaver Lake is the animals domain. The deer still come in large numbers passing through in the darkness. I have decided to put food out as winter approaches to augment what little food they find especially when the snows come. We don't plan to turn them into pets and our lab will make sure of that, but we want to do our part and maybe if a few more feed down our way there could be fewer looking for food along the highway.

It is really neat to find antlers when the bucks shed to grow new ones. I left a beauty on an old oak stump this summer below our deck. Guess what, Douglas squirrels love to chew on those antlers. There must be something pretty tasty in them for the squirrels. I saw a momma squirrel bring two little ones to the antler this summer for a chew.

Back to the Deer. Why is it the deer out here are so much more majestic than the ones in the South. I don't know but I never tire of seeing them even at the expense of numerous bird feeders. Like my bear the deer seem to relish knocking bird feeders around.

Let me hear about your Deeer story........it doesn't have to be a Shaver Lake story. Any story will do.

Bear Stories

How many of you hike the mountains around Shaver Lake, CA., just yearning for a glimpse of black or brown fur off in the distance ? No need to hike if you really want to see a bear at Shaver Lake, just bring some bird seed over to our cabin and a comfortable chair. Oh by the way bring a flash light and a warm blanket or two. I will supply the coffee. The only limiting factor is the number of bird feeders left at the cabin. You see we receive regular visits from the Shaver Lake birding bear. Like most birds he is very quiet and like most males he is very messy. The nicer the feeder the more he likes it. This bear must have an eye for quality, because the more expensive the feeder the more likely he is to take it with him. I really believe it is the same Shaver Lake swimming bear that visits my neighbors pool from time to time for a dip. Yes, there is actually one pool at Shaver Lake. So our bear knows what he likes and isn't afraid to drop by often. If you have an old bird (preferably expensive ) feeder I know just the right Shaver Lake bear for you. So stop over some evening and meet our furry feathered friend.

Fishing Report

I would be happy to start a fishing blog on this site. I can dig up a legitimate fishing report to get started. The thought came to me that there are some pretty good tales to be told when it comes to fishing in our beautiful mountain lakes. So why not share experiences with your fellow fin loving folk. We encourage all tales though there should be a modicum of truth to even the wildest tales. Feel free to post a fish story on any of our beautiful lakes, realizing of course, reaching Wishon, Courtright, Edison and Florence in winter could be a story in itself.

I know you are out there......I have seen the boats bouncing along the dam at Shaver Lake while on my way up to Sierra Summit. What possesses a man to sit in a snow storm with a hook in the water. There are even hardy souls on many days with a hook in the water at Huntington Lake. You can see them when you drop off chair one.

All we need is one hardy soul to post and we will be on our way to fishing oblivion..........