topic Re: Anyone need a loan? in Community Chat

Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:13:08 GMT

I have 5-6 bucks...

Buckley is getting really dark. That is him in the center above, and him to the left with his back to us below. It is my understanding that the acorns are falling and bucks gobble them up, which darkens their coats.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Boomernichols — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:20:07 GMT

@MamaWick Buckley has quite a harem going there. I have never heard that about eating the acorns and the change in pigment hide color, news to me.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:22:17 GMT

My neighbor told us that about the acorns. I need to look it up, but it is a certainty that the bucks, especially that big guy, are getting darker.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

golding76 — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:28:05 GMT

MamaWick,

I loved learning about acorns' having an effect on the coloring of deer. Such an interestiding tidbit.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:32:03 GMT

The acorn thing could just be an old wives tale (and as I said originally, I've been told this). I can't find anything to substantiate. They do change from summer to winter coats, but hey...I'm in Texas and we are under heat warnings.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

SilleeMee — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:40:05 GMT

From google:

"Why do deer get darker in winter?

In the fall, deer gradually trade their summer hair coat for a winter one, which consists of thicker, longer, and darker hairs called guard hairs, while also growing in a much thicker undercoat. ... For further insulation, their bodies also begin to retain more fat in layers during the fall."

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Jordan2 — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:43:07 GMT

@MamaWick I hope you don't mind me asking, but is this your property that the animals congregate on? If so it's like your a Disney Princess living in a wonderful Disney cartoon!

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Drythe — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:45:11 GMT

@MamaWick

I’m always curious about the origins of sayings such as that.

Wonder if it’s because acorns were used in dying cloth?

They are all beautiful!

Thank you.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

SilleeMee — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:52:52 GMT

Acorns contain quite a lot of tannic acid. That is used in the dying process of leather and hair/fur. TANnic acid...tan your hide. But I don't think eating acorns will darken fur.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 21:56:28 GMT

Aha! So maybe there is something to the acorns!

@Jordan2 yes, that is our back yard. Our house is blue. There are 3 houses being built behind us, but no houses in the lots next to us. Our yard is what I call the size of a postage stamp. PapaWick can mow it in just under 20 minutes.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Mz iMac — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:07:44 GMT

The first pic is an open air ~~man~~ buck cave. 2 buckets of water to boot!.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Leggett28 — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:10:24 GMT

Your pictures are Amazing 😉

Re: Anyone need a loan?

spiderw — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:11:33 GMT

I liked your play on words, loan and bucks!!!! The visitors look content as usual and your kindness welcome! You, MamaWick are a true friend of nature!

Re: Anyone need a loan?

Spurt — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 23:36:42 GMT

Love seeing the deer photos...learned something new about acorns too...

Re: Anyone need a loan?

1Snickers — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 01:39:07 GMT

@MamaWick My deer got darker in the Autumn. I wondered if it's nature's way of making them blend into the woods. Or, dark coloring retains more heat for the winter.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MoonieBaby — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 01:40:08 GMT

@MamaWick

I adore seeing them enjoy a drink in your yard.

So gorgeous they all are, so much beauty - it would make me cry if it was my yard they regularly visited. Literally cry. hard.

Buckley should stick close to your place all fall and winter so as not to end up as a trophy on some jerk's den wall.

My cousin hunts and he and I argue about it every fall...I will never be okay with it, no matter the reason.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 01:54:01 GMT

@MoonieBaby rest assured that Buckley won't end up as a trophy. Where I live, one must own 10.1 contiguous acres to hunt. No one around here owns that much.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MoonieBaby — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:04:32 GMT

@MamaWick

Please continue to show them love all through the next 2 seasons, I want to see his babies next spring, and thank you for putting my overly fragile heart at rest - I'm glad your yard is just the way it is!!!!!

Re: Anyone need a loan?

MamaWick — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:43:24 GMT

I hope that when Buckley loses his antlers next year, he drops them in my yard. I hope after he does lose them, I will still recognize him.

Re: Anyone need a loan?

dancingwoman — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 03:15:21 GMT

"Our" deer are getting their darker winter coats....You can see they still have some of their summer coat around their legs...DW