“Perceptions,” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

It’s getting dangerous out there.

After picking up groceries on Victoria Street a few days ago, I was walking home and had just crossed the busy intersection at Second Street South and 17^th Avenue when I came face-to-face with a wild herd of deer, at least 20 of them, and they were running down the street towards me.

In my amazement, I nearly skidded to a stop on the icy sidewalk and stared in disbelief because in my part of town I see deer virtually every day, but not that many and certainly not that many in one spot running like a pack of wild dogs.

You know how deer normally “run.” Dainty little hops of two or three feet and then they stop within 10 feet or so, turn around and give you the ungulate stare, saying in effect what kind of a heartless monster are you to get in the way of a cute, furry forest critter like me you vile Bambi hater? And then with another haughty stare from their deep brown eyes and a twirl of their big, pointed ears they merrily go along their graceful way leaving you feeling deeply ashamed of yourself and wondering if you’re not in need of some counselling.

And any of you out there who have lived in Cranbrook for more than a year know I’m telling the truth and not engaging in exaggerated hyperbole.

So, what should I do, I asked myself as the hooved vermin bore down on me. The galloping deer herd, almost all whitetails, covered the sidewalk and part of the street adjacent to the sidewalk and there was little room to maneuver. But just as I was getting ready to jump into the hedge on the right the panicked deer veered the other way and thankfully charged right by me, their tall white tails bouncing in the breeze as they headed towards Laurie School.

Safe at last!

A little shaken up because I’d never experienced anything like that before; a few more stragglers ran by me, I scanned the street and its immediate surroundings to see what had panicked the deer. But search as I might, I didn’t see a dog, or of more concern, a cougar or a wolf that might have accounted for the deer’s bizarre behavior.

So, I finally turned and crossed the street and headed for home shaking my head. And before I go further, let me assure you everything I’ve written here is the unadulterated facts.

The whole experience lasted less than a minute because the deer were tearing down the street so fast, I don’t think any of the creatures even saw me. Something must have spooked them, but I never saw what it was. But what if there were more pedestrians on the street that day?

Seventeenth is a well- used street close to a big school with lots of students and others walking the sidewalk including mothers with baby buggies.

Many a time, I’ve watched from my living room window as mothers, spying deer ahead, turn around or duck down a side street to avoid them. Both myself and several of my neighbors regularly use hand-held, pressurized air horns to chase the critters away. Our lawns are covered with deer dung virtually year-round.

It’s not fun and one of these days someone is going to get seriously injured or even killed by a panicked deer. I honestly think the city has done its best and spent a lot of taxpayers’ money trying to handle the problem, but have been thwarted by the animal rights lobby and a complacent citizenry who have given up on the problem.

Until someone is killed.

e-KNOW file photo

Gerry Warner is a retired journalist, who likes deer in their natural environment.

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