Thursday, November 01, 2012

Old Goat?

(This was written before Sandy and scheduled in the event I lost power.)

I was throwing things into my purse and getting ready to head out and vote early in our presidential election a week ago.  I knew with the coming Frankenstorm, as the National Weather Service labeled the collision of a hurricane, a cold front and a southern rain front, that on this day the lines would be long as they were every where for everything from getting money, to food, to gasoline to stocking up on that essential booze.   Americans thankfully were also willing to stand in long lines to vote early. (I was in line for an hour and a quarter before I reached the voting booth.)  Prior to heading out, I glanced out my dining room window and saw a goat grazing at the edge of the lawn. What on earth?




It was still dark in the early fall morning and my old eyes convinced me that this might also be an escaped exotic animal of some sort.  There is a llama farm a few miles away.   I watched as it wandered from one side of the oak tree to the other before it emerged unafraid into the clearing.


Yes this is a little blurred as it was taken through a double paned window.  I did not want to get out on the deck and scare it until I had been able to watch it for a while.  Most of you now know what this is,  a pie-bald deer.  They are rare, but not as rare as an albino deer.  They are usually born from large herds and also born with various genetic defects that will give them greater challenges to survive.  They are not shunned by the herd because unlike humans, outside color does not matter to this species.


Her legs seem short to me in relation to the rest of the body.  Her hearing was excellent as when I went on the deck to get this shot she heard the click of the camera and looked around.  BUT she did not see me if I was totally still, so her eyesight must also have some defects.  She still is the most interesting symbol I saw on the day of early voting representing to me how varied our voters are!

16 comments:

  1. wow what a capture...i have never seen one..that is fascinating...and i hope all is well post storm for you....

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  2. This is a first for me and a great picture. And you're right, it does express the voter conundrum we have right now.

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  3. No need to sit and muse about this one . . . Tabor, she is awesome. Thank you !!!

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  4. I have never seen a piebald deer! Cool!
    As for elections...we've gone beyond sad. the back room boys have taken over the front room boys.
    Weird that you have an hour and a half line up to vote. With that I don't think they want people to vote.

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  5. wow! that's so interesting! i have never seen anything like that before!! hope you were safe during the storm!

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  6. The piebald deer is something new to me too, but he/she really is quite beautiful!

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  7. I wondered if people would make an effort to vote before the storm struck. That's good to know.
    A piebald deer is news to me.

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  8. I don't doubt it -- a fascinating symbol. Much thanks for the post.

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  9. Oh my gosh! I have never seen or heard of this beauty! Thank you so much for posting! Gorgeous!

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  10. Wow! I have heard of these, but never seen one (and it's common for us to see a dozen deer a day in our area). Very cool!

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  11. I have never seen one either!! She is beautiful. Nice shot.
    Yes the voters are varied and I sure hope everyone gets out and casts their ballot. It is a precious honor to vote and if we could get rid of the electoral college..it would be that much sweeter.
    Hugging you
    SueAnn

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  12. If only outer color did not matter so much to our species! I've never seen a pi-bald deer - thanks for sharing!

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  13. Pie-bald-deer -- something new for me. Your photos are great of the little guy. Hope he does well in your environment. -- barbara

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  14. Well add me to the group who have never seen one before. What a lovely looking creature. Beautiful captures, Tabor. I'm glad you shared.

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  15. Thanks for this explanation about the deer Tabor. Glad you were safe from Sandy - Dave

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