How common is this?

[kyteris]

My wife, two kids, a couple of friends, and I took the boat out yesterday (Monday) afternoon. We ran around the river for abit and were headed back towards the dock when we saw something in the water as we went by. We all turnt and looked real quick to find two dear swimming across the river. Now dear are common in the woods around TN I know, but in the middle of the river? I never even knew a dear could swim, much less in 36 ft of water with a pretty good current. We watched them swim the rest of the way across and onto the bank. Only then did they turn to look at us as if they were scared. In the water seemed they ignored us, seeing as when we first went by them the outboard was running and we were only about 15 ft. in front of them. Was definitely a first for me, took pictures of 'em on my cellphone, but they blurred. Wish I'd had the digital camera with me..

 

[danrs]

Re: How common is this?

We've got a lake out here with an island in the middle of it. The island is a pretty good ways from the shore. Not sure what would possess a deer to swim across that lake to get to the island, but they do.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: How common is this?

Down here (New Orleans) we have swamp hogs in the water. Craziest thing I have seen in the water.

 

[Bondo Again]

Re: How common is this?

Ayuh,....

I can't pull up the pictures right now,....

But,...
2 summers ago, Debbie,+ I watched a spotted fawn swim accross the Chaumont river, Right in front of our House.....
He acutally came ashore At my place, shook off,+ meandered off into the near by woods,...
No mommy deer anywhere to be seen....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How common is this?

we saw one crossing the intra coastal a month ago down near Daytona. that is also the reason some of the Fl Keys have high fences along US 1, the Key Deer were being killed by cars. they swim from Key to Key

http://www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/

 

[dingbat]

Re: How common is this?

It's quite common to see them swimming out in the middle of Chesapeake Bay in the fall. Sometime miles from shore.

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/che...r/206622-little-buck-swimming-chesapeake.html

 

[thurps]

Re: How common is this?

Somewhere in the billions of digital pictures we have on unorginised dvd's are some pictures of a black bear mom and two cubs crossing one of the arms of Shasta Lake in No. California.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How common is this?

Deer obviously can swim and swim well. Moose, Elk and most other four legged critters swim -- even cats although they prefer not to. A deers hair is hollow to act as insulation in the winter but it adds bouyancy for swimming. The DNR in most states also frown on you chasing or otherwise approaching any wild game while in the water. Here in Minnesota it is illegal to shoot wild game in the water. As for water depth, once you decide to swim it doesn't matter whether the water is 6 feet deep or a 1000.

 

[ArkBoater]

Re: How common is this?

I've never seen a deer in the water (although they do swim the lakes around here) but I was out last summer testing a boat and I stopped right in the middle of the open water on the lake and noticed something swimming. Well, it got closer and it was a squirrel. This thing was way away from any land and about that time, I realized it was heading for me. By the time I got back to the helm and was about to fire the engine, the dang thing climbed on the ladder on the back of the boat and was sitting on the top up the hull at the stern looking at me. The first thing that popped into my head was that Ray Stevens song about the squirrel going berserk in the church. I was able to grab my long rear light pole and I'm sure if you were watching this from another boat, it would have looked like I was having a fencing match with an invisible foe. Well, I finally got the thing knocked off the boat and got the boat fired and hauled tail (mine, not the squirrels) out of the there before he came back. haha

 

[INJUN]

Re: How common is this?

I've seen them in Long Island Sound (New England).

ArkBoater; that squirrel was probably exhausted and need a rest.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How common is this?

all he wanted was a little rest and a ride to shore. poor fellow.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: How common is this?

While skiing in the ICW with some buds during my high school days, we saw a raccoon swimming in the water. Someone, not me, decided the animal needed to be rescued and pulled it into the boat. The raccoon became highly agitated with the situation and we all jumped into the river to lessen the confrontation. After a few minutes of status quo, it got back in the river and we got back into the boat. Everybody went away happy with the lesson learned: raccoons do not want to water ski!

 

[ArkBoater]

Re: How common is this?

I've seen them in Long Island Sound (New England).

ArkBoater; that squirrel was probably exhausted and need a rest.

all he wanted was a little rest and a ride to shore. poor fellow.

Yeah I thought about that after I pulled away. I turned and watched the little guy for a second and felt kind of bad about it. But how did I know he wasn't trying to hijack my boat!! The first thing they ask for is a ride, then boom, no boat.

 

[KnottyBuoyz]

Re: How common is this?

We quite often see deer and coyote swimming across the back channels of the St. Lawrence river. Yrs ago when I worked in Thunder Bay On we'd often encounter deer on the ice having been chased out there by wolves etc. (Isle Royale is covered with them) They'd panic once they were on the broken ice edge and often try to swim for it. I'd say we rescured a dozen or so in the 5 yrs I worked up there (on an icebreaker).

A few of our deckhands (3 IIRC) were checking shore lights with a 21' Boston Whaler when they happened across a full grown bull moose swimming from one island to another. They thought it was a good idea to get up close for a real good look! Nope! The moose took exception to their advance and hooked an antler under the rub rail and dumped all three in the drink! This was November IIRC and the water wasn't exactly warm! ;o) Good thing the moose just swam away and didn't try to drown them all. The Cap'n wasn't too impressed with their explanation for swamping his whaler.

 

[kyteris]

Re: How common is this?

Well, guess alot more critters swim in the waters than what I thought. I guess was just the shock of seeing them since it was the first time..

Arkboater, that poor squirrel wouldn't have hurt ya unless you tried to pick it up, then just depending on how tired it was would determine the outcome. Never really known them to be aggressive, used to have a couple that got orphaned. Raised 'em and then let 'em go. Sweet little critters actually.