Amid German Shepherd High Drama, A Fond Encounter With A Spotted Fawn

It is dusk, and I am on my mountaintop in western Mercer County. Hiking up a hill and struggling to see through the darkness of the forest, I am suddenly struck by high drama. In an instant, I am racing through the woods chasing German shepherd pup Pica who is, in turn, careening after a spotted fawn.

Suddenly, all-too-familiar words echo from my mouth. “Piiiiccccaaaa… Nooooooo!”

• • •

Let’s start at the beginning. Pica is the new German shepherd pup who joined our family on Labor Day weekend of last year. He is a sweetheart, but also rambunctious and mischievous. He is a true boy, one who loves to play and operates at high speed all the time.

Pica has two sisters, our aging yellow Labs Honey and Penny. They are golden sweethearts, who trot about the house and yard with ever-constant smiles. They don’t run or jump anymore, but they brighten the atmosphere by their very presence.

Prior to Pica’s arrival, we also had Pugsley, the Neapolitan mastiff who, at a giant-dog age of 9, we lost suddenly in autumn of 2014.

The point to this is that for several years our house and property was populated by senior dogs who cared very little about the deer that roamed our yard. Many evenings I would arrive home to find a herd within feet of our porches, munching apples and grass and oblivious to our very presence.

The dogs, meanwhile, would occasionally raise an eye, check out the scene, then quickly go back to sleep.

• • •

It was during these golden years that, I believe, the deer began using our fenced-in yard as a nighttime playpen of sorts. Deer are known to leave their young in high-grass areas during evening hours. The fawns lay quietly and close to the ground in an effort to stay safe from predators such as coyotes.

And let’s talk for a moment about coyotes. While Virginia’s Tazewell County has had a bounty on their heads for years, West Virginia officials have seemed to have their heads in the sand regarding their appearance in the Mountain State. Contrary to the belief of government, coyotes do not stop at the state line to wait for a welcome to cross the border. They are here. And I have seen them myself less than a mile from my house.

• • •

But back to the dogs and deer.

The does, bucks and fawns have had a pretty sweet spot to hang out until the arrival of Pica. He is the athlete of dogs. One who can bound across the property grounds in the blink of an eye.

And, for whatever reason, he does not like the deer. The fawns, on the other hand, are a different story.

• • •

It’s late Monday night at the end of a restful three-day weekend. I am preparing for bed while Pica is on a potty break in the backyard. Suddenly I hear his bark and know something is amiss.

Pulling on my shoes and grabbing a flashlight, I head out the door to the side yard. There I find a standoff. Pica is at the edge of the yard while a mama deer is less than five feet away in the woods behind the fence. Between them is a baby fawn no more than a few days old. I quickly corral Pica and bring him into the house, thinking the drama is over.

• • •

Less than 48 hours later, Pica again goes outside for a sunset bathroom break. I naively believe all is well until I hear his high-pitched yips from high above the backyard. The sound is distinctive, a vocalization Pica only uses when he attempts to entice the yellow Labs into play. Since the girls are sleeping soundly in the hallway, I wonder who — or what — he has encountered.

Jolting out of the house I race up the mountain. Belatedly I realize I do not have a flashlight, and the forest lighting I soon encounter is dim. Reaching the fence line, I see Pica once again standing over a spotted fawn. This one is older, but still not inclined to go on a play date with a 10-month-old German shepherd. A few feet away, I can once again hear a mama deer snorting from the other side of the fence.

Suddenly, the fawn rises from the forest floor and paws the ground, mimicking the stance of an older deer. Pica thinks the fawn wants to play, and immediately crouches with butt and tail high in the air. The fawn bolts, Pica follows and I am left in their wake. I take off running while giving the customary yell, “Piiiiccccaaaa … Nooooooo!”

About 40 feet away I finally catch up to the pair. The fawn is once again laying down, while Pica yips, begs it to play and totally ignores my commands.

Not knowing what to do, I take a chance and scoop the fawn into my arms. I can feel his heart racing, but he lays quietly in my embrace. As we walk quietly back through the forest, I cuddle him close and utter soothing words. Soon, his pulse slows and there is a moment — an instant when I am snuggling a baby deer in the woods at sunset, and life is perfect.

Reaching the initial area at the fence line, I find a spot large enough to get the fawn through to the other side. I can hear mama in the distance, and know in my heart they will be OK.

Finally, the impish Pica begins to comply with my directives and follows me back to the house.

High drama, yes. But also a moment to remember forever.

Special thanks to Samantha Perry and The Richmond Register for a great story

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