Oh Deer!

Last Monday during a conifer identification program led by our knowledgeable volunteer Lance, Lyman Woods staff and volunteers were treated to a show put on by a few of our resident deer. Two bucks were sparring in front of a doe (who didn’t seem to be paying them any attention and was more interested in eating!). This time of year, deer are regularly spotted at Lyman Woods, especially in the late afternoons. In fact, Natural Areas Instructor Colleen snapped these photos of a couple of deer visiting the Interpretive Center last Saturday!

During the winter, deer browse on woody vegetation, including the twigs and buds of trees and bushes. Bucks and does live separately for most of the year, but in winter they may gather together, or "yard up” in large groups led by does.  Yarding helps provide protection from predators.  Bucks leave scrapes and rubs to communicate with other deer. To make a rub, bucks use their antlers to strip the bark off of a small tree, and a scrape is where a buck used its front hooves to scrape the leaves and twigs away from the soil. While hiking the trails at Lyman Woods, keep your eyes peeled for a deer along the trail, and be sure to check along tree trunks for signs of a recent visit by a buck.