One couldn't be quite sure were they gamboling or running away, but they were in fact tired of being watched and they split the scene. 
Key deer dive into the underbrush and vanish. Once they are out of sight they are gone completely. No Name Key has produced a fair crop of deer this year which either means they are showing up in public looking for food or they are reproducing at high speed because there are lots around. I don't think the drought helps because greenery is withered everywhere this year.
I don't often come to No Name Key in the summer months. What makes the island so pleasant in winter cold fronts makes it terribly hot in summer. All those trees keep the winds at bay and the trails are much warmer in a cold north wind than you would expect.And you wouldn't expect to find people fishing under the full Florida sun, but it takes more than that to keep the fanatics away, apparently.
I followed a big old construction truck from the gravel quarry on No Name Key across Big Pine Key and I can only figure the driver was from out of town because every time a Key Deer poked it's head out on the grass verge the big old truck lumbered to a stop as the driver stared at the deer. Locals pretend to be blasé about the deer so when I see them I stop and photograph them to prove I'm just a visitor.
I caught this one sticking it's tongue out at me, so I did the same back. Cheeky bugger. 
They are quite rude these deer. This one was completely ignoring one more of those signs favored in the Keys to tell people what to do and what not to do. 
I was surprised to see Key Deer type animals photographed in St Johns, US VI, by this resident of the British Virgins: http://thebvis.blogspot.com/ She took a vacation across the water and met a Key deer. I had no idea Key Deer lived abroad too.
Key deer dive into the underbrush and vanish. Once they are out of sight they are gone completely. No Name Key has produced a fair crop of deer this year which either means they are showing up in public looking for food or they are reproducing at high speed because there are lots around. I don't think the drought helps because greenery is withered everywhere this year.I don't often come to No Name Key in the summer months. What makes the island so pleasant in winter cold fronts makes it terribly hot in summer. All those trees keep the winds at bay and the trails are much warmer in a cold north wind than you would expect.And you wouldn't expect to find people fishing under the full Florida sun, but it takes more than that to keep the fanatics away, apparently.I followed a big old construction truck from the gravel quarry on No Name Key across Big Pine Key and I can only figure the driver was from out of town because every time a Key Deer poked it's head out on the grass verge the big old truck lumbered to a stop as the driver stared at the deer. Locals pretend to be blasé about the deer so when I see them I stop and photograph them to prove I'm just a visitor.I caught this one sticking it's tongue out at me, so I did the same back. Cheeky bugger. They are quite rude these deer. This one was completely ignoring one more of those signs favored in the Keys to tell people what to do and what not to do. I was surprised to see Key Deer type animals photographed in St Johns, US VI, by this resident of the British Virgins: http://thebvis.blogspot.com/ She took a vacation across the water and met a Key deer. I had no idea Key Deer lived abroad too.
1 comment:
Thanks so much for linking my blog. I was a bit behind on reading yours, so just saw it this morning.
I would note that the deer on St. John are imported white-tails, that have become miniaturized over the last 100 years or so due to isolation and adaptation.
Similar in story, I suppose, to the Key Deer, and I'm not biologist, but I imagine the St. John deer are likely a different sub-species of white-tail from the Key Deer. They do look an awful lot alike though.
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