Life Along Route 603
Observations from a Virginia summer where backyard gardens, country roads, and evening drives have become the domain of deer
Something must be done about the overpopulation of deer slowly taking over Lexington and the surrounding county. Just off Main Street in my grandmother’s backyard a herd of deer have taken up residence as evidenced by their constant appearance morning and evening in the yard and their presence throughout the day. The herd lazes unperturbed in the shade under the trees without a care in the world. Just the other day I witnessed four deer happily cross the street into a neighboring yard in broad daylight to munch on day lilies. After snacking they meandered across the road and returned to their spot under the trees, pointedly ignoring me and it seems the presence of any other vehicle and human. A shocking occurrence topped only by the appearance of a new-born fawn hiding among the raised garden beds.
Along Route 11 driving home the same day I passed a police officer pulled off the side of the road engaged in civic duty. He was inspecting a deer carcass that sprawled where it had landed in the ditch along the road after an unfortunate meeting with a car hood blasting down the hill at the speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Never have I seen so many deer abound throughout the city and its surrounds.
The Forgotten Byway
However, it is not merely in Lexington that the deer are making their numbers known. Irish Creek is spotted with deer both living and dead and the smell of death and rotting corpses is beginning to permeate around many a bend in the road. A dreadful smell it is that arises long before you turn the bend in the road and come upon the source of the smell, a corpse with its belly turned inside out, the hide and flesh pierced with holes, and the vultures scattering from their feasting at the approach of the car. You need no encouragement to hold your breath and speed away in search of fresh air. It makes no difference if your windows are open or closed for the stench is a strong one and quite inescapable.
Every Road Tells a Story
It is not just deer that find themselves struck down in the prime of their youth but many other animals besides. You are sure to find groundhogs, possums, rabbits, and perhaps even a skunk along the way and it seems there are more bodies every day in a constant state of decay. Although the vultures are happier than ever at the current plethora of meats available, the situation is only exasperated by the terribly long grass growing out of control along the roadway. The grass hides the unfortunate animals from view until they jump out and scattered in panic before the car. It seems we on Irish Creek have been long forgotten by those who duty it is to look after our byways. By the time any mowing is done, there is sure to be the sound of many a crunching bone under the relentless blades of the mower.
