Critters on the course you ran into...

[Tripper]

While on vacation a few weeks ago, I played Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO. I teed off on hole 3 https://www.dgcoursereview.com/view_image.php?id=48&p=e5d32bba and my shot landed just short of the basket. As I was walking up to putt, I noticed in the rough just to the left of the basket a doe. Not that unusual I suppose although the park seems to be in a mostly urban area. Also notable is that as I walked by I could not have been more than 5 or 6 feet from her. I putted out and proceeded to the 4th tee basically walking right around the deer which never moved.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

As I was walking up to putt, I noticed in the rough just to the left of the basket a doe. Not that unusual I suppose although the park seems to be in a mostly urban area.

The past few years, I've been seeing deer in places you never would have seen them 5 - 10 years ago. Probably some combination of increasing deer populations and loss of wilderness habitat has them venturing into places we don't typically expect to find them.

I find it amazing how long one can be in your field of vision without you even noticing it... particularly when you're driving.

 

[Tripper]

The past few years, I've been seeing deer in places you never would have seen them 5 - 10 years ago. Probably some combination of increasing deer populations and loss of wilderness habitat has them venturing into places we don't typically expect to find them.

I find it amazing how long one can be in your field of vision without you even noticing it... particularly when you're driving.

The deer was actually in the woods right next to the basket. It was pretty early and the deer was still drinking her first cup of coffee so I am assuming that I woke her up as I walked up to my drive.

 

[Lazerface]

While on vacation a few weeks ago, I played Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO. I teed off on hole 3 https://www.dgcoursereview.com/view_image.php?id=48&p=e5d32bba and my shot landed just short of the basket. As I was walking up to putt, I noticed in the rough just to the left of the basket a doe. Not that unusual I suppose although the park seems to be in a mostly urban area. Also notable is that as I walked by I could not have been more than 5 or 6 feet from her. I putted out and proceeded to the 4th tee basically walking right around the deer which never moved.

Yep, very common at JB. You are correct, the park is in an urban area, but it's a very large park and the disc golf course is on a small section. Since it's a highly used park and the deer that live there likely do so year round they are accustomed to human encounters and given no hunting they don't spook like regular whitetail.

 

[DavidSauls]

Yep, very common at JB. You are correct, the park is in an urban area, but it's a very large park and the disc golf course is on a small section. Since it's a highly used park and the deer that live there likely do so year round they are accustomed to human encounters and given no hunting they don't spook like regular whitetail.

That's the thing. You're more likely to see them in a suburban and borderline area, because they're acclimated to people. Our course is infested with them but, unless you're out very early or late, you don't see them often, rarely for long, and very rarely from close by.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

That's the thing. You're more likely to see them in a suburban and borderline area, because they're acclimated to people. Our course is infested with them but, unless you're out very early or late, you don't see them often, rarely for long, and very rarely from close by.

Meanwhile, on some interwebz deer forum...

Back in the day when I was a young buck, you hardly ever heard bi-peds throwing plastic in the woods... just a whack ev'ry now and again. But there's no avoiding 'em lately. You can't even sniff for bears without one of those clumsy apes trampling through the woods, literally scaring the crap out of you... it's like they're infesting the forest.
And don't get me started on their "blue teeth."

They ain't getting any smarter either, cuz I swear I see them venturing deeper & deeper into thicker brush looking for those damned things, then b!tch about the thorns. You think they'd' have figured out how to throw those away from the thorns. :doh:

 

[DavidSauls]

That's great stuff.

 

[Old Dog]

Very young fawns will instinctively hold tight to their bed relying on their natural camouflage to protect them from predators. The mother deer will come around to feed the fawn only a few times a day so as to avoid drawing attention to the hiding spot. For every one you have seen you probably have walked by 3 others and never new they were there.

Deer are extremely adaptive to human encroachment into their habitat. They love feeding on the manicured lawns and shrubbery in the suburban housing developments that have replaced their woods.

 

[IchLebeErneut]

At one of my local courses, there are loads of these tiny toads in the mulch on one fairway. They're impossible to spot unless you're looking down when they're hopping. I still have trouble believing their size every time I come across them. Seriously, those light specks on this little one's back are grains of dirt.

I have the feeling I terrified him because I could feel his breathing (or heartbeat?) against my fingertips. I don't blame him. I'd be scared too if a giantess trapped and lifted me into the sky.

 

[knettles]

Played Horning's Hideout recently and was bewildered to discover the place was overrun by peacocks! They were everywhere, and made the strangest sounds.

 

[Tripper]

At one of my local courses, there are loads of these tiny toads in the mulch on one fairway. They're impossible to spot unless you're looking down when they're hopping. I still have trouble believing their size every time I come across them. Seriously, those light specks on this little one's back are grains of dirt.

I have the feeling I terrified him because I could feel his breathing (or heartbeat?) against my fingertips. I don't blame him. I'd be scared too if a giantess trapped and lifted me into the sky.

I see these little guys at Buckhorn all the time.

 

[Pymm]

So on Saturday, I threw an upshot which got stuck in a tree branch about 12 feet up. I walked up to it and there was a dead baby bird on the ground right under the branch. I thought I'd killed it. Upon further inspection, it seems to have been dead awhile, ants were all over/around it. Felt bad seeing a tiny little dead bird but not nearly as bad as I initially felt, thinking that my errant shot killed it.

 

[jtrod]

Same day

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I'd rather happen across the turtle.

 

[Noill]

Me too, but it looks like a little guy and non venomous... Though, I'm no expert...

 

[BogeyNoMore]

I dunno... kinda hard to tell from pic, but the head looks pretty triangular in shape, which usually means viper.
Jtrod's profile shows San Diego... could be a juvenile Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.

 

[Noill]

Looks like you're right... At least, it's a good chance...

I'm never worried about the snake I see... It's the one I don't that worries me...

 

[sidewinder22]

Forget the head, it has a rattle!

 

[Noill]

Yep... Still a little guy though... Unless I don't have the perspective right

 

[Tripper]

Same day

A couple of years ago I ran across 2 turtles in more of a doggy position at Zebulon DGC in NC. I have a photo but decided not to post since this is a family friendly website.