Watch out for the Deer

As my spouse and I were coming home this evening two deer jumped out in front of us right before we reached the intersection with Clairborne coming from the "new" Greenway exit (I don't know the name of that road). I was kind of surprised to see how big they were! I'm glad my spouse is a good defensive driver!

 

THe same thing happened to me on Belmont Ridge road the other eveing about 6pm. A deer ran out right in front of us.

CJA

 

Someone hit one this evening. It was dead in the left lane on Claiborne going South, just south of Waxpool. There were two cars pulled over and a Sheriff's cruiser. Right at 9pm.

 

It is so sad...there's too much development and not enough wooded space left for the deer here.

 

It is sad.
We have lots of them up here on the hill at Glebe View. They live in the woods here, so they are always around.
I have even taught my daughter to just think of the deer out there when it is dark and she is driving.
They just pop out of nowhere!!
They dont see us or acknowledge us. We are invisable to them it seems.

 

Actually, deer prefer to live in open fields. They typically use woods to hide in. And it is all this development that is in a large part causing the deer the flourish. Deer mainly feed on all those lovely plants and shrubs that people landscape with.

We live in Southern Walk and there were 10 on the walking path immediately behind our house the other day.

 

We are also fortunate to be along the walking path but I noticed that some of the SW homes really have no privacy from the walking path. At least we have a decent wooded area between our yard and the walking path.

Now...back to deer...probably a crazy thought but wouldn't it be nice if there could be some kind of a mini petting zoo near the Nature Center? Something like the one in Reston but much much smaller!

 

would you be signing up to feed the animals, or take care of the aftermath [8D] (reference previous topic on rabbit poop)

 

[V]
Um, no, let's not </u>cage the wildlife. And while we're referencing deer who don't "acknowledge" us as indicated in prior post somewhere here, let's remember that we people have invaded their space and don't acknowledge that.

Okay, off my soapbox. I just hate the concept of zoos and whenever I see a dead animal on the road it makes me sad. Who knew I was so sensitive...

 

Yes we have created the perfect environment for deer. Plenty of food and cover. We've killed off all their natural predators and because of explosive development, hunting has been squeezed out to areas west of here. There are actually more deer in the U.S. now than at any time in recorded history.
The deer have it pretty good around here.

 

I think I read it on here or the Post that the Govt. is actually putting coyotes around the area to help control the deer. And that they are starting to show up... Honest.

 

I havn't heard of any Government plan but coyotes have naturally expanded their range here. They started showing up several years ago. They have been confirmed in Rock Creek Park in DC. I actually saw one in Montgomery county a few years ago. They are quite secretive and usually hunt a night so sightings are few and far between. I would not be surprised to learn there are some roaming the Broadlands.

 

I posted that comment and I think you misunderstood what I meant, Good Grief!
Okay, I did not mean that the deer do not "acknowledge" us in that respect.
I meant they are not aware of us, and we must watch out for them!
What were you thinking I meant? That they should bow to us for allowing them to continue live and roam freely in our community and who cares if they were here first?

Wow... yeah....

 

Deer- I used to think it was neat seeing them around. Now I think of them as overgrown rodents...they sneak into your yard and eat your shrubs, and can total your car if you hit one!!

 

Yeah, I am bummed.
I just noticed a few days ago that they have gobbled up my two foot Hawthorn shrubs... practically down to a few nubs in the soil.
Oh well. I wont buy any more of those.
I need to read up and find out the foliage that deer like to eat....

 

Just remember ... its not the first one you see that you hit ... its the one running after the first one !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

With all the dead deer that are seen lying on the side of the streets all throughout the area it amazes me how fast people still drive around dusk and in the evening when the deer really come out in numbers, especially down Belmont Ridge. Some of the most dangerous and least expected places I have seen deer are on the off ramps from the Greenway when cars are still going close to 60 mph up the ramps, along the Greenway itself and along those roads like Loudoun County Parkway that seem so wide open.

 

My wife was on her way to work a few months ago at ~5:30am and was stopped by a sheriff right in front of MCI and he went over and shot an injured deer right in front of her... pretty sad

 

At least he put the poor thing out of its misery...