Deer and dog best friends?

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:23 pm

Wasn't quite sure where to post this, but it does involve a pet (just not mine) but figured pet lovers would find this interesting....

Anybody out there familiar with deer? My parents had some new neighbors move in next door and they have a labrador retriever who seems to have made friends with a wild deer! Every morning my when my parents are having their coffee on the back porch, they witness this bizarre little ritual between a dog and a deer...

Around 6 a.m. a female deer shows up at the back of the neighbors property and just waits at the fence and watching the house. Eventually the back door opens and out flies the lab. He makes a "bee-line" for the deer! They then sniff noses and jump around a little bit getting excited to see each other and then they begin "the dance"..........each running up and down the length of the fence nose to nose through a black wrought iron fence that spans the property.... this goes on for a little while and then each eventually go on to do their own thing....(the deer grazing/the dog pooping!..... It all just seems so bizarre....but has actually become a thing my parents look forward to watching each morning! Anybody have any input on this? We're stumped!!

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:30 pm

I have seen stories like this before. Very rarely, but I have heard of it. There was a clip on, believe it or not, "Planet's Funniest Animals" about a crow that had adopted a stray kitten. An elderly couple saw this kitten in their yard, tried to catch it and couldn't and watched while a crow came to it, every morning, and brought it worms, and other "bird-type" food. I guess it went on for several weeks, and the kitten finally trusted the couple enough to allow itself be caught. Even after the couple had made a place for the cat in their home, the crow continued to visit every day, even when the kitten was full grown. They played together, wrestling, playing tug-of-war, and napping together.

If I hadn't seen it myself, I would never have believed it. They had several hours of footage, from what I understand. It is very strange, and I have absolutely no explanation for it! It sure is cool to see though, isn't it?

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:55 pm

Yes! I did see that story about the crow and kitten too! It was great! Stories like these can be so fascinating especially when they are completley unexplainable. My parents do not know the neighbors real well yet but I am sure will eventually. Can't wait to hear their thoughts on it too!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:32 am

I'd love to witness something like this. Those that do are truly blessed. Kinda puts things in better perspective.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:20 am

Yes you are right! I grew up in a family of animal lovers and so my dad especially enjoys this every morning. I think I will have to go spend the night to check it out myself!

KritterLover · Post by **KritterLover** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 5:48 pm

:-6

Yes, I've seen this behavior between my dog and the deer that frequent our yard! Only, every morning at 6:30AM when I take him out to do his business, we are greeted by a two year old black bear. I swear, that bear just waits every morning for me and my dog to do our rounds, feeding the wild birds and to say hello. This bear is a twin. His brother is not far off. During the night, it's not surprising to see eight bears come and go. Best part is, when they swim in the creek behind my house! Awesome sight to see!

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:07 pm

Sounds like a wonderful place to live! Post your bear stories anytime--would love to read your adventures!!

KritterLover · Post by **KritterLover** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:27 pm

Yes, I am blessed to live where I am. Love all the creatures that frequent my property. Sunday morning, I go outside to start painting my house and low and behold, there is my four year old bear just sitting in the yard watching me work! I ask him what he was doing here so early! Told him he needed to go up the hill so I could work. Slowly, he gets up and crosses the creek to sit behind an oak tree, peering left and right, to see if I'm looking at him. I go get my camera, sit on my side of the creek and start snapping pictures of him. Awesome bear! He hung around until 1PM, then walked off into the woods.

Later that evening when I went to feed the deer, I am crossing the foot bridge that staddles our creek and low and behold, this bear is laying belly side down in the creek to cool off!!! Black bears are like people. Have such great personalities and each one has such unique features that one can tell them apart.

I feed many kinds of animals. Deer, bear, raccoons, skunks, red and gray fox, an occasional elk shows up, had a coyote last night, bobcats, etc. Living here is like a zoo without bars! Respect the wild animals and they do no harm!

KritterLover · Post by **KritterLover** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:28 pm

KritterLover wrote:

Yes, I am blessed to live where I am. Love all the creatures that frequent my property. Sunday morning, I go outside to start painting my house and low and behold, there is my four year old bear just sitting in the yard watching me work! I ask him what he was doing here so early! Told him he needed to go up the hill so I could work. Slowly, he gets up and crosses the creek to sit behind an oak tree, peering left and right, to see if I'm looking at him. I go get my camera, sit on my side of the creek and start snapping pictures of him. Awesome bear! He hung around until 1PM, then walked off into the woods.

Later that evening when I went to feed the deer, I am crossing the foot bridge that staddles our creek and low and behold, this bear is laying belly side down in the creek to cool off!!! Black bears are like people. Have such great personalities and each one has such unique features that one can tell them apart.

I feed many kinds of animals. Deer, bear, raccoons, skunks, red and gray fox, an occasional elk shows up, had a coyote last night, bobcats, etc. Living here is like a zoo without bars! Respect the wild animals and they do no harm!The eyes are the windows to the soul.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:00 pm

I really hate to say it, but a fed bear is a dead bear in a lot of cases.

You are teaching those animals you feed not to fear humans, and then

they start breaking in to people's garbage and cabins and all kinds of

things.

I don't think it's right to do it.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:06 pm

KritterLover wrote:

Black bears are like people.
Ooo...bad news here. Bears are most definitely NOT like people, in any way. They are dangerous, unpredictable animals. Anyone who believes they have domesticated one or gotten to know it so the bear "trusts" them, is just asking to lose a limb, or worse.

KritterLover wrote:

I feed many kinds of animals. Deer, bear, raccoons, skunks, red and gray fox, an occasional elk shows up, had a coyote last night, bobcats, etc. Living here is like a zoo without bars! Respect the wild animals and they do no harm!
You say "respect the animals and they will do no harm" and I wonder...how much DO you like animals? Because what you are doing is taking away the instinctive fear of people that they are all born with, making them susceptible to hunters (like me) and to the highways as well. Why don't people know this? I can understand perfectly wanting to be near them, it's great to see wild animals. The problem is, they're wild animals. Once you have them coming to you for food, you've taken some of that wildness away.

KritterLover · Post by **KritterLover** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:36 pm

Am really misunderstood here....what I meant by bears being like humans: their "personalities are," "their "facial features" are. And the feed they receive is mostly natural, what they would find on their own in woods. I have close to fourteen thousand acres of land which is strictly "planted" for wildlife, for them to consume it. I plant things that bare fruits, seed, berries, corn, etc. I never hand feed anything! This is like a private sanctury to retreat to for them, to get away from hunters like babyrider. Have no "close" neighbors, no "close" highways. I take pleasure in the work that I do for my critters. Takes a lot of labor, sweat and cash to grow and maintain food plots, which I will continue to do. In the 20 yrs that I have been doing this, I have never had one negative incident happen. I "really" do love animals and have a lot of respect for them.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:38 pm

Kritterlover, you are so fortunate to live like you do. I think when you are that far away from civilization, it should be ok to feed your animals. It doesn't sound like you are handing them empty cans of chili and fast food wrappers either so I think what you are doing is wonderful. These are God's creatures He knows what you are doing! Lucky you! Please share more anytime!

KritterLover · Post by **KritterLover** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:28 pm

Thanks robinseggs for understanding. No fast food for nearly 50 miles, so the animals don't have a clue what they are missing. I feel truly blessed to reside where I do and reap the enjoyment of God's creatures.