Deer and the weather

Deer are just the most magnificent creatures on earth. They're beautiful and shy but have a tendency to be curious. Deer are also the best way to predict when severe weather is on the way. Down here in South Louisiana you won't usually see many deer unless you're in a highly wooded area and even then they can be pretty scarce. With this latest winter storm we've had, the deer seemed to be everywhere, even in places I wouldn't have expected to see them. Over the years I've paid very close attention to the wild life around me, everything from the birds to whatever critters walk across my path. It has never ceased to amaze me how the animals know that bad or unfavorable weather is on the way. I mean let's face it we're human we need the weather men to tell us what to expect from week to week. Anytime I hear that severe weather is on the way I always look for the deer and try to observe their patterns. Back in the mid 90's we had what people down here refer to as the "May Flood" about a week (give or take a few days) the deer were more visible before the flood hit. They were eating whatever they could and moving to higher ground. Little did I know at the time that a flood was coming. that is when I started really paying attention. This last storm was no different. We had had one day of winter weather with ice and some flurries, but I didn't see the deer and it wasn't a real bad cold snap. This week however, the day before the storm was to hit, I was bringing my daughter to school and low and behold I spotted two large does getting ready to dart in front of my truck. The roads were wet and I was probably doing a little over the speed limit. none the less I saw those eyes on the side of the road and, knowing I was going to slide, hit my brakes kinda hard. luckily I had hit my brakes at the right time because as soon as my truck stopped sliding forward the two Huge does that I had seen on the shoulder decided to jog across the road in front of my truck. My daughter and I were glad they safely made it across, otherwise I would've  totaled my truck and cried all day because I injured or killed these two beautiful animals, not to mention that if I had hit them my daughter and I would've been pretty banged up. Everyone was talking about the winter weather to come the next day and everyone was trying to down play the severity or hope it wasn't going to be as bad as the news was saying, but seeing those two does moving to higher ground I knew it was going to be just as bad if not worse and I was right. The schools had shut down for three days, the interstates had closed for two days, and since today is the 4th day we still have ice on our houses. So in conclusion keep an eye on the deer when bad weather is coming.