White-tailed Deer

Except for squirrels mammals are not commonly seen along the BRT. I have seen an armadillo, some racoons, and a few rabbits. White-tailed deer, however, are not uncommon.

I took this picture at the north end of the large hay field along the BRT. It shows a moment during one of my most memorable animal experiences along the trail.

I saw a herd of 10 deer on the hill by the forest you can see in the picture. Between me and the deer is moderately deep swale. The deer are on a slight ridge in front of the swale. I was standing behind a wire fence covered by vegetation.

The deer on the hill saw me, and instead of running away the herd started down the hill at a trot in a line. They disappeared into the swale and then slow advanced up onto the ridge. First their heads appeared, and then gradually the rest of their bodies. They trotted towards me down the ridge. This is when the picture was taken. The line of deer stopped about 50 feet from me. I think they thought I was another deer, and they were coming to greet me. I was wearing a brown hat and had a black camera in front of my face. So, to the deer I may have looked like a funny-looking comrade. Eventually, after studying me for a while the deer decided I wasn’t a deer and they walked slowly off to forest on the left side of the picture. A neat experience.