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Where We Left Off:
The cat detectives discovered Moretti’s Rock Fortress had a new inhabitant. This is a species we’ve never before seen at the Winchester-Nabu estate.
The Wilder Women:
The soggy summer heat has caused the local fauna to have some strange behaviors which we’ve been noting in the recent case files. Now there’s nothing new about how humid it gets in New Jersey. It’s one of the worst things about living here. With humidity come annoying swarms of bugs too. They don’t only bother sensitive humans like me. The mother we met for breakfast in early July not only had a newborn to protect and feed, but flies were all over her too.
Oliver was eager to go out and meet the wildlife friends. Gus intended to focus specifically on chipmunks, but that changed once we got out there. The Grumpy Old Man informed us of all his observations. He even went out and bought apple-scented corn which certain creatures like white-tailed deer, Jersey Devil-Deer, raccoons, and grackles happen to love this corn.
There’s a doe with three fawns; a doe with two fawns; a doe with one fawn (Deerdra and Sheelin); and a doe with no fawns (anymore). A fawn was found on the highway nearby, deceased apparently from a vehicle collision. We don’t know if that baby belonged to any of the deer or devil-deer that frequent the estate grounds. It’s only an assumption at this point. It might also be some sort of explanation about why one older doe who shows up without any fawns feels the need to stalk and attack the doe with one fawn.
Can members of the Cervidae family feel and act on emotions?
Oliver stared from his spot at the French doors. “I think only very few humans would consider that animals other than whales are capable of experiencing those kinds of envious emotions.”
“No less act on them,” Gus added from the tower.
I chimed in. “They’re definitely protective parents. We know that the mothers send out vocal warnings. They stomp on the ground to scare off anyone who gets too close. Plus, they’re more powerful than you might think. I certainly wouldn’t want any age deer take a kick to either of you.”
All of us are curious about what you armchair detectives think. Would a childless doe, especially one whose fawn died, take out their grief through being aggressive towards mothers who still have their fawns?
By this point, Oliver and Gus has already introduced themselves to a deer who didn’t have any fawns with her in mid-June (seen in the video). One of the deer creatures showed a limp on June 16th, the same day we had that up-close encounter. Injuries have been seen more often this summer than any previous summer. We aren’t counting deaths in this as there are always many from vehicle collisions. Seeing male and female deer with survivable injuries when it’s not rutting seasons, leaves the cat detectives wondering what’s going on.
Case Findings:
Gus, Oliver, and I have loved the opportunity to have close encounters with the wildlife. We would never interfere with them like insensitive people at national parks who continue to try petting bison. Bison! I’m there to keep watch so that the cats are safe. We also never instigate the meetings. Other than the snacks put out, we don’t chase down the critters for meetings (I mean, Gus does instinctually, but I’m not counting that). Usually when the corn is put out, it happens by The Grumpy Old Man while we’re heading home or already back inside.Â
The behavior and psychology have the detectives and I curious.
Case Status: Open
This case file’s code name, like almost all of them, borrows the title of a book or movie. The Wilder Women is a fascinating book about the mother-daughter relationships with a supernatural pastiche.