A Deer Kicks the Bucket

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.  Psalm 42:1

     About a mile from our home a river runs through our little town. During the dry summer, the river is the main source of water for many animals in our area. However, between our house and the river there are a few major roads which animals have to cross to get a drink.

     Pictured above are some deer staying cool in the shade of our yard during a hot summer day. A while back, we put out a heavy rubber horse bucket at about the place where the doe on the right is resting. I think the bucket holds about seven gallons of water. On warm days, the deer passing through our yard will drain it completely.

     It has been hot of late in our part of the world. Earlier this week, I glanced out the window to see a deer lying in the yard. This was nothing unusual, and I turned away for a moment. Then I looked back. Something was amiss. I looked at the deer as she stared at me through the window. Then I noticed – the bucket was gone!

     I looked around and saw the edge of it up against a shed. The doe, or one of her cohorts, had booted the empty thing down the hill toward our house. I went and checked out our little weather station. It read 107 degrees F. And that was in the shade.

     I walked to the window and looked at the deer again.

     She gave me the stink-eye.

     I retrieved the bucket and refilled it while the doe retreated momentarily to the surrounding brush. After I went back inside, several deer gathered at the bucket for a cool drink.

     Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but it seems to me we’ve noticed far fewer deer struck by cars along the nearby roads since we started putting out some water for them in the summer. If we’ve kept one person from crashing into an animal, it’s been worth it. Even if I have to endure an occasional stink-eye for my forgetfulness.

     Have a great day.