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Trude | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> winter_mule_deer_at_caspers tree view | thumbnails | slideshow
We saw mule deer on the hillside at Caspers Wilderness Park in Orange County CA
We saw mule deer on the hillside at Caspers Wilderness Park in Orange County CA		 I snuck uphill, quiet enough that one came right towards me
I snuck uphill, quiet enough that one came right towards me		 Mule Deer are browsers, and there was lots of new leaf growth from the winter rains
Mule Deer are browsers, and there was lots of new leaf growth from the winter rains		 Something on the hilltop spooked them
Something on the hilltop spooked them
And they came leaping down towards me
And they came leaping down towards me		 Across the coastal sage scrub
Across the coastal sage scrub		 Leaping and bounding past me
Leaping and bounding past me		 as I gazed in amazement at their agility
as I gazed in amazement at their agility
I walked to where I thought they might cross the access road
I walked to where I thought they might cross the access road		 First deer stepped out
First deer stepped out		 And walked towards me
And walked towards me		 Ah, it wasn't me but an interesting smell on the road
Ah, it wasn't me but an interesting smell on the road
Second one came out but was wary
Second one came out but was wary		 Like a Crossing Guard, male waited as female came out and crossed
Like a Crossing Guard, male waited as female came out and crossed		 They didn't step on any lines
They didn't step on any lines		 Fourth deer looked both ways before crossing
Fourth deer looked both ways before crossing
Into the (oak) woods they went
Into the (oak) woods they went		 But male was alert and did a U-turn to investigate the sound of my camera
But male was alert and did a U-turn to investigate the sound of my camera		 Isn't he slendid!
Isn't he slendid!		 Males shed their antlers in fall, then tips appear in spring
Males shed their antlers in fall, then tips appear in spring
They crossed the creekbed (how many of the 4 can you find?)
They crossed the creekbed (how many of the 4 can you find?)		 A last look on the other side while I said thank you for the encounter
A last look on the other side while I said "thank you for the encounter"

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dhyana winant 03-Mar-2009 16:34
WONDERFUL !!!!!!!
Trude03-Mar-2009 03:47
"The ears and tail of this Animal when compared with those of the Common (white-tailed) Deer, so well comported with those of the Mule when compared with the Horse, that we have by way of distinction adopted the appellation of Mule Deer" wrote explorer William Clark in his journal in March 1806 during the Lewis and Clark expedition. So the name has been ever since.
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