Raggedy, Scraggly and Mangy Deer

Collected the SD cards from the three trail cameras yesterday.  They're all in new locations.  Had to hunt for the third because I had forgotten where I placed it two weeks ago.  Picture count numbered 36, 93 and 162 for a total of 291 photos over the course of 15 days.  All deer.

Not only have the trees on the farm been hammered by over-browsing by the deer - the post winter deer herd is looking pretty rough. 

click on images to enlarge

 

You can even see the pelvic bones poking through on this gaunt-looking deer.



This is as good a sign as any of a local deer population that is at carrying capacity.  With all the browse gone and unlikely to be replaced this year the deer are going to be stressed to the point of significant mortality.

Unless, of course, someone thins the herd this year.