Suicidal Animals

A view from an outlook over Bethlehem, PA on the walk up to the mountaintop campus.

Here at Lehigh, there are really 2 campuses. The main campus is in South Bethlehem while our summer education classes are on the mountaintop campus. The mountain top campus is about 8-10 minutes by car and a 25 minute walk, which several us do in the mornings for some exercise, inclusive of 5,000 stairs, or so it seems (even though it probably closer 300). We often see local wildlife, including deer on our walk. Note the 2 fawns and deer in this picture (although a bit blurry). There was a 2nd adult deer just out of the picture as well.




Sometimes, depending on the day, we also walk down the mountain. A few days ago, 3 of us were walking down the mountain.

I can only speak from my own experience, but deer are magical creatures. Albeit dumb, they do seem to have magical qualities. For example, deer just appear out of nowhere and then run off and disappear. More than once, suddenly a deer appears in the forest or alongside the road and I could swear I was looking at the exact spot and didn't see anything. Others might say God camouflages them well. Regardless of whether you go with the magic or camouflage argument, combining either with stupidity is dangerous.

I witnessed the result of this terrible combination several days ago. Only 50 feet in front of us, a deer magically appeared out of nowhere. Cool...except that same deer then thinks she can outrun a Dodge minivan going 45 mph and leaps out to cross the road. I won't get graphic, but a few bangs and clunks later, the case for combining some sort of intelligence with these "magical" abilities is made.

However, I later went out on my mountain bike that same afternoon. During my ride, I had a field mouse do the exact same thing and run in front of me. He missed my tire tread by 3 inches, with my assistance. He looked like he had already lost some of his tail due to a previous incident. Shortly down the path, a rabbit ran out within 4 feet of my bike. On the way back to my dorm, a 2nd rabbit did nearly the same thing. It seemed like suicidal animal day.

Is there some teacher in animal school that is giving bad advice? I can see some adult animal teacher giving a lesson something like this...Okay, Ralph, when you see something coming that is 5 times your size or more, run out and front of it and try to cross the path. But don't go to soon. It's not safe. This is the only way to keep the hawks away. If you don't see anything coming, you're going to die. Okay, here comes a human traveling fast...wait...wait...go NOW! Perhaps it is part of this grand plan for little animals to avoid being prey or something. Although still dangerous, I could see some justification. However, the deer need to quit listening to the squirrels' coaching and try a different tactic because it's not working for them.

And when my wife is gone and absent from editing my posts, you get something like this...