https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/senseofplaceriz/new
As the Alaskan summer begins to thaw the last vestiges of winter in Juneau, the days stretch longer, and the veil of cold recedes. Today, just outside my workplace, nature graced me with a serene encounter – a deer, unfazed by the hustle of our human lives, contentedly feeding on the dandelions that had reclaimed the ground. It’s that time of year, when the wildlife in Juneau reminds us of their quiet coexistence with us. Watching the deer, a picture of calm and ease amidst the wildflowers, was a gentle pause in my day. These moments are not unfamiliar in my life, yet each one brings a unique touch of wonder and a reminder of the world beyond our constructed walls. But as the clock hands moved, so too did I have to, back to the responsibilities waiting inside.
In Alaska, these beautiful creatures, known as Sitka black-tailed deer, are both admired in the wild and managed as game species. With the deer hunting season generally starting in August and ending in late December or early January, hunters take to the units where regulations permit harvesting bucks and/or does. These regulations ensure the sustainable management of deer populations and hunters must follow specific guidelines and obtain necessary permits (A-Z Animals).
Roadkill and hunting incidents are part of the challenges faced by wildlife populations. As such, Alaskan authorities enforce strict hunting regulations to ensure safety and conservation. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game outlines that shooting across roads or highways is not allowed and emphasizes the use of weapons in a responsible manner to avoid accidents and overharvesting (DeerSeason.Org).
Ciatations-
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. "Sitka Black-tailed Deer Hunting Information." Alaska Department of Fish and Game, www.adfg.alaska.gov. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
A-Z Animals. "Deer Season In Alaska: Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared." A-Z Animals, a-z-animals.com. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Kommentit
Hi Riz,
I enjoyed how your writing style in this post flowed and painted this beautiful, picturesque scene that I was imaging in my head while reading your post. Deer are such interesting creatures! Growing up, one of my friends that lived in Prince of Wales Island (her dad was a Forest Service person), which is a quite rural place to live, found an abandoned fawn and they bottle fed it back to health until it was old enough to live on its own. Well, it ended up becoming bonded with the family and would come back every few days to say hi. It was very cute, but not sure how ethical it was in hindsight.
Elizabeth
I too have seen more than one deer at the UAS campus grounds here in Juneau, once in the midst of winter there was three coming up the road that had been cleared of snow, and then again after the snow had melted a doe and her two fawns with a car following slowly behind them. I had taken my foot off the gas pedal and stopped as well to let them pass undisturbed by my vehicle although it seemed that they were not concerned by its presence or me inside it. I have also had more than one bear walk across my front yard between my vehicle and my house where the raspberry bushes grow although they did not appear to stop for the berries. The regulation enforcement reminds me of when Hayes was writing about her younger life in the book "Blonde Indian: An Alaska Native Memoir."
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