Stumpy's harem

Maybe, just maybe, Stumpy has rounded up his own little harem. It seems to consist of his sister, Stella (who is very antsy these days; maybe she realizes that she's his sister and that just isn't done--but this is West Virginia, after all), Molly (who turned out to be a boy), Jason and Kelsey the twins, Old Mommy, and a couple of assorted adult females and their babies. They've been hanging around together all summer, except for the newer ones and Old Mommy.

Stumpy disappeared for a few days a week or two ago, but he's been back with the ladies and babies since then. He's very comfortable at the house; the others tend to jump and bolt a few feet when we toss the corn at them, but he just stays put. He stalks poor Old Mommy and chases her off when he sees her; she in turn chases off the babies. Stella bolts at every little sound. Molly, Jason and Kelsey bolt but come right back.

Old Mommy, whoever she is, is old, fat, and pretty placid. Her face looks like a donkey's to me. She must have pretty much eaten and rested all summer, because she's in wonderful shape for an old deer. She hangs around the porch for hours waiting for a handout.

It's so cool to drive up the driveway in the evening and see several deer lying in the tall grass, one or two off to the side, and more coming down the hill and around the house. Tom sends Zippy outside to do his business; he and the deer cross within a few feet of each other and don't even seem to notice. Later, when the deer have eaten all their corn and have wandered off into the yard, if we go outside they run right back, even if we don't call them. There are as many as 11 in the yard at once; the usual group is 8, but lately there have been a few more.

Photos follow.

Old Mommy

Stumpy, Molly, Jason and Kelsey

Fat Old Mommy

Stumpy and friends

There are 9 deer in this photo; they're watching the other two who'd just gone down the hill to the creek.