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.