The earth. Animals of many kinds. Beauty in the flowers, trees, grasses, and in the wind which moves them, creating sound and sensation for all beings. The dogs love the natural world.
This fawn was discovered while taking seven week old English Shepherd puppies on their first hike to the forest. The plans to introduce the puppies to the wild were stopped by a bit of that wild standing square in the middle of the road. Stopping carefully, and noticing the doe who had been hit by a car, I approached the fawn. She watched me for a moment, and then ran, bounding into the swampy grasslands to the side of the road. I moved the car farther off the road, checked on the puppies, and began, with little hope but some determination, to search for her. After many minutes of searching, hopping from bog to bog around swampy holes of water, I was about to return to the puppies. Just then I heard a strange noise carried on the wind, a tentative high-pitched whimper. I listened close, and in a few seconds heard the same sound again. I began hiking in the direction I thought the sound had come from. It wasn't long before I was startled by a rather unusual sight. The head of the fawn below me. She had jumped into a small but rather deep vernal pool amongst the muskeg. She was standing with water up to the back of her long velvety ears. The pool was so small in circumference that it left her no room to maneuver her long legs to get out. She would surely have died there. I quickly scooped her up, drying and wrapping her with my sweater. Shivering and scared, she did not struggle.
Home on the Farm
Goat milk for puppies and fawns. And warm blankets. Many of us who love dogs have had a puppy or a dog snuggled on the bed--well, a baby fawn will settle for such comfort just as easily.
At the time of discovery, or rather encounter, I was milking six Alpine goats twice a day. I had plenty of milk to offer a forlorn fawn. Having bottle-fed puppies, kids, and lambs for decades, I was not too worried about her accepting the bottle. She did so with relish. Soon, with a belly full of warm milk, she lay sleeping soundly on my bed. She slept there for almost a week. Once I thought her strength was returning, and she was less stressed, I began to try and locate someone who would care for her over a longer period of time.
Fawn says hello to Kioma, Chincoteague pony.
After a number of phone calls and conversations, I came across Angel Arms Deer Rehabilitation, out of Grant, Michigan. This facility is owned and operated by Daynelle and Dennis Vanderlaan. Although they only are able to accept deer from a certain number of counties, luckily the fawn was found in one of these. Arrangements were made. Taking along an extra supply of goat milk, I prepared to say goodbye. Upon arrival, I was pleased to see the extensive set up for rehabilitating the deer to the wild, with separate spacious enclosures for each age group, progressing to more and more freedom until the gates were opened altogether. Best of all, the deer are still fed for some time after release, and Daynelle says that at the start of deer season she sees them come back in groups to their own woods and creek, where they are safe from hunters. Daynelle named the little fawn "Holly" and Holly has done very well, likely having had fawns of her own by now.
Holly at Angel Arms (the larger fawn trying to nibble the collar of littler one).
Wildlife in Peril from the least Wild
Collies are a domesticated species, but, like humans, their DNA traces back to the wild, the original home of us all, and, one could argue, the only true home. There is nothing so wonderful as spending time "at home" with the four-leggeds.
Alvin and a young cohort.
Staying the Course
The Green Heron
This green heron appeared in a an old apple tree while I was out playing with Cody's puppies. A few weeks later a baby green heron was found in the yard. The collies alerted me to it's presence. I had no idea where the nest was, and the little one was too young to fly. Once again a wildlife rescue was called for, and the folks and Riversbend Animal Hospital (Dr. Scott an expert with such rarities) took her in and helped her thrive.
Collies are known for alerting their people whenever something is amiss on the farm, or in the family. A collie will bark to get your attention, just as "Lassie" did on the television show. My own Lassie did the same thing numerous times.
Where the wild and the domestic intersect, there is wonder, but where the wild thrives, there is joy.
Be Well: Walk. Explore. Wander.
“There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother-love showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties” ~ John Muir
