A few times I've witnessed deer and wild turkeys hanging out together. Not just eating in the same field, but actually there together, in a very casual, comfortable way. It reminds me of friends hanging out in a coffee shop. I've never been able to capture it...until now!
The first time I saw this was in an area in Durham where a wild sighting is always guaranteed, and as I was driving down the road I saw what I can describe as a large huddle of critters -- a combination of deer and wild turkey and they appeared to be doing nothing but hanging out. Not deer with deer, and turkey with turkey, but intermingled. They didn't appear to be eating. I couldn't figure out what the attraction was. I figured they might be plotting the demise of the area's coyotes (I can just see the Acme anvil teetering at the top of a large pine now.).
There were ten deer and close to thirty turkeys that time. I tried to get a photo but my lens was too big and they were too close, and I couldn't capture the moment.
I figured that had to be a one-time thing.
But then I saw it again. Not quite the same numbers, but the same sort of comfortable camaraderie that I'd witnessed the first time. And this time, no camera at all.
But finally, I have been able to document this friendship between the two species!
I was on the same road today, hoping to see a fawn that has been photographed in the area. As I was heading toward the area, I saw a deer on the side of the road, not crossing but clearly peaking out at me. I figured the fawn was by the deer's side in the high grass so I waited in my car at a distance.
Slowly something smaller emerged right next to the deer. At last, the elusive fawn! I aimed my camera; focused; but when I had a closer look through the lens, I thought "it's dark brown and pointy!"
This is what I saw.
First appeared one buck with a turkey mom. There was a second buck with the other mom behind these two. And then...the munchkin procession started!
You can see how comfortable they all were, as if this was an everyday occurrence. My experience with turkey moms is that they are excellent caregivers, and I was amazed that they had no issue whatsoever with these massive deer and their little ones underfoot.
And just when I thought it couldn't get any stranger...
...Uncle Buck stood in the middle of the road while the little ones crossed! You can't tell from this photo but there were at least 15 babies, possibly more, with these two female turkeys.
Still waiting......there's one more!
Only when the turkey moms got the last of the babies to the other side did the deer cross behind them.
A truly amazing sight to see, and I'm glad that I was finally able to capture what I've witnessed in the past.
I don't know much about the typical relationship between deer and turkey, and maybe this is the result of the terrible loss of land for wildlife in Durham Region, or a common enemy, but whatever the reason, this was very sweet to witness and it makes me wonder what goes on between species in Durham when nobody is there to witness!
An amazing morning I won't soon forget!
(Excuse the photo quality...shot in the drizzle through a dog-nose-printed windshield!)
