White-tailed Deer

Description:

A young (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year-old), teenage White-tailed buck dubbed Tiny G. (for Tiny Gramps as he resembles an older, full-grown buck dubbed Gramps). Head down, ears pinned back, hackles raised...that's Tiny G.'s Modus operandi or method of operation. This body language is meant to intimidate or threaten, like screaming "Back-off!" and waving a gun, toy or otherwise.

Habitat:

Prairie grasses surrounded by woods and farm fields

Notes:

Tiny is like a human teenager always testing his limits, society rules and his own strength much to the dismay of everyone else in the herd. Of all the deer in the herd I have the least amount of trust in Tiny G. and Dennis (aka Dennis the Menace). Both liked to terrorize young does and fawns...not unlike a class bully everyone is a little afraid of and tends to avoid. On this particular day he pushed everyone around too much and Leroy (aka Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown) gave him a smack-down he and I are not likely to ever forget. Leroy not only stood up on his hind legs and brought both front hoofs down on him, he smacked him so hard he flipped Tiny G. over on his back. Leroy is normally a very mellow buck so his actions took both Tiny G. and I by complete surprise. So shocked was I, I didn't photograph anything but sat with my mouth hanging open before shaking myself and saying, "No! No, Leroy! Be nice." in as stern a voice as I could muster. Leroy turned his head and looked at me like, "You've got to be kidding me, lady." but the fighting and the terrorizing stopped and everything went back to normal afterwards. Tiny G. walked off into the woods a little sore but apparently not critically hurt.