I live in a woodsy area. Deer are every where, and they are used to being in contact with humans. I walked out of my house, during deer rutting season. There was a big ol' male deer-with a huge rack of antlers. There were a few doe behind him. Well, Mr. Deer thought I was going to steal his women folk. He began to paw the ground, and waive that huge rack around. He made noises-I had no idea deer could "talk". He's getting all worked up. I felt he was about to charge at me. I just about made it back inside. After the rut, he went back to munching on my lawn. You forget that while deer are mostly very docile, but sex does strange things to males.
Had the same thing happen to me when I was clearing the banks of a stream. I had my chainsaw off, at the time. As the stag pawed the ground, and started to lower his head, I said, loudly, "Oh yeah, you so bad? How about charging into this!" I then fired up my chainsaw, and gunned it. Mr. Macho looked up, turned tail, and tore out of that stream bank with his lady loves close behind.
My encounter with "wildlife" that is sure to amuse: I was working a Harris poll on soil erosion, on farmland. I came to a large horse ranch. The house stood behind a fairly tall stone wall. On the gate a sign read, "Warning, guard cat!" Thinking it a joke, I went into the yard. After a few steps in, I noticed, laying on the grass, watching me, about thirty feet away, a - - -JAGUAR! It was not quivering in a crouch, so I felt sort of safe. I remained facing him, talking in a normal voice, "OK, man, I'm leaving here, take it easy." I walked backwards, keeping an eye on him. As it turned out, "JJ" was well known to the neighbors, who had tried to get him moved out, after be escaped and killed a neighbor's dog. He also ripped out his vet's hamstring muscle! The Fates were smiling on me, that day, but definitely messing with my lifeline. On the way to the ranch, a wasp had flown into my window, and fluttered against my shirt, before I crossed into the oncoming traffic lane, as I flicked it back out the window, without getting stung. Luckily the road was deserted.
