by Dick Weaver
When we showed up again at Camp Mimanagish back in June, there was evidence of at least one deer making herself at home under the trees near our Gazebo. Having arrived a couple of days before Cathy and me, Dilynn and Jonna were sitting at the Gazebo when a whitetail doe actually approached and bedded down within 20 or 25 yards of them.
Lately, we’ve been visited in the early morning by two does and a spotted fawn.
These are whitetail deer, which are usually much more shy than the mulies that help trim the landscaping in people’s yards all over Helena. So it’s a bit surprising to see them so close. I suspect that the lack of human activity in Camp in 2020 made it a very comfortable and even safe place for these deer.
Whitetails are smaller than mule deer, and these seem particularly small and vulnerable. So if they feel safe in Camp, we’re glad for them.
The fawn seems like a late one, to me. Sometimes, if the whitetail does don’t breed successfully in October or November, their cycle comes around again and maybe they breed in January. I’m wondering if that’s the case here. I hope the little one is sturdy enough to survive whatever winter brings us. I can’t predict how things will work out, of course. We feel fortunate to have such gentle friends allowing us to share their space, but there is no guarantee that nature will see things my way.
The forest is a wonderful place to renew and refresh our souls. We hope we’re giving our human visitors the opportunity to do that. Amid the bustle and work of repairing things, helping fix meals, and doing the daily tasks before us, we do sometimes get the chance for renewal ourselves. Experiencing this part of God’s creation so up-close and personal, we do fall into routines and take the surroundings for granted. Having these whitetail friends visiting is a reminder to me, and a blessing, as well.
God and the works of God are all around us. May we see them.