The Hanlon Creek Deer Herd

Headed out for a walk yesterday, along the trail that cuts through a corner of the soft maple swamp. Suddenly, like ghosts emerging from the trees, there were the deer. Had my camera, so I was able to get some pictures - though it was late in the day and cloudy.

Initially you see one or two deer as they move between the trees, and then when you stop and watch, the others, standing still, materialize before your eyes. There were 8 altogether, making their way toward a house that sometimes puts out grain on a table in their yard.


Later, as I followed one of the trails along the creek, deeper into the swamp, suddenly there were the deer again. First one, then three, then suddenly I realized it looked like the same group of 8, their brown winter coats blending into the trees so perfectly that they are nearly invisible only 50 feet away.


Two more were grazing right outside the fence beside the townhouses as I headed home.