Duke’s New Friend

Duke’s New Friend

Sampson

Duke has a new friend.  His friend doesn’t come around much but when he does Duke and him play around.  They play tag, but things are changing for his friend.  His friend is getting older and his hormones are starting to kick in. His friend also has a sister and they came by yesterday morning to visit me.  Duke was not out yet as he was still in bed fast asleep.  They were around for about an hour and then they both left.

His friend did come back later in the evening and Duke was outside.  My husband got to see his friend too and that was fun.  He allowed my husband to put out his hand and I am not sure if he let him touch him or not.  I can touch him and he also wanted to play with me too.  I did rub his back and tried to see what was on his sides.  They were just spots that he was shedding.  He liked being scratched between his ears.  I also rubbed his neck and he did enjoy that.

Duke and Sampson

If you haven’t been around my fb page or read any of my articles then you would not be guessing that what Duke’s friend is. He is a male deer.  His antlers are just coming in.  Last time that we saw him was the day of the big snow storm where we got 42 inches.  I don’t know where this deer sleeps.  I don’t even know if he and his sister sleep together.  I do know that someone raised them.  We have been told that and we also seen her walking through the woods with them. 

I think that I am going to call the male deer, Sampson.  I don’t want to call him anything and I fear for his life here in these big woods.  I know that they did not raise these deer on purpose or know what the dangers would be when they started growing up.  They should have called the local Wildlife Center and had them raise them in their sanctuary. 

Eating My Rose Bush

When he comes around now, I had to push him away from my rose bushes.  He was eating them like they were candy.  No I also know why I have a bare area in my garden that I have my Irisises and Lily of the Valley’s in.  He ate them all up.  Now a normal wild deer wouldn’t go near places that I have my pinwheels in, but he did.  It was so funny though when I saw him put his nose right down into the pinwheel and sniff it as if he was going to munch on it.  I don’t have much money to put into my vegetable gardens this year and maybe there is a good reason for that.  He and his little sister will eat it all up because they are not afraid of man or anything else.  They used to be afraid of the cats, but not this time.  He chased my one cat from the perimeter of the yard to the front deck.

Another thing that was hilarious was when my husband went outside and took Duke for his evening walk.  Sampson, was really into eating our grass and not paying much attention to anything else.  We may not need to cut the grass if Sampson and his sister come around more often.  Well my husband and Duke were about halfway down the road and Sampson lifted his head up and seen them and he took off running towards them.  That deer walked with my husband and Duke and even came back with them.  That was funny and so cute. 

We do have lots of wild deer that run and live here in these woods.  They are huge.  There were about 12 deer in a herd that ran across my yard and down into the ravine about a month ago.  They stood about 7 feet tall at the top of their head.  They were all females.  They were amazing.  They didn’t stop to make friends with anyone.  They were a herd just running through the woods.  Sampson and his sister will never run with the herd and I am afraid that they will eventually kill Sampson and his sister.  That is the way it is in the wild.

Sampson