Most Muscodians, and other area folks, probably think they live in a rather quite community, especially during the nights. But maybe there is more going on in the neighborhood than we realize. I recall a spring conversation with Dorothy Hackl, village president. She lives in a wooded northwest part of the community.
She noted she could not have many yard flowers because the deer would eat them.
On the other side of the village, in early September, a resident purchased and planted a maple sapling in an otherwise treeless area of the front yard. A short time later he noticed something different about the young tree. Even though the lawn is not close to a woods, it was evident that a buck deer, probably a youngster, had found the little maple and it was just right to use for a “rub”
The tree has now been wrapped to protect it from future rubs. According to DNR research a mature buck may make, on average, more than 300 rubs a year. If that’s right, the local “Battle of The Little Maple could continue for some time.
She noted she could not have many yard flowers because the deer would eat them.
On the other side of the village, in early September, a resident purchased and planted a maple sapling in an otherwise treeless area of the front yard. A short time later he noticed something different about the young tree. Even though the lawn is not close to a woods, it was evident that a buck deer, probably a youngster, had found the little maple and it was just right to use for a “rub”
The tree has now been wrapped to protect it from future rubs. According to DNR research a mature buck may make, on average, more than 300 rubs a year. If that’s right, the local “Battle of The Little Maple could continue for some time.
Looking back a lot of years, a more exciting nighttime deer event took place when a doe broke a window and entered the local high school. It was found the following morning hiding in a cafeteria closet. With help from maintenance personnel and a DNR warden, the animal was returned to the wild.
