The Girls are Back!

Although I had been anticipating a visit any day now, I was still surprised when the girls decided to make their first Spring appearance on my birthday this morning. Here's Mama. . .

and here's last year's offspring (just above the snow line in the upper right of the next photo).

Junior-ette stopped cautiously when she heard a Pileated Woodpecker nearby.

Mama headed straight for Spring brunch at the bird feeder, but Junior-ette headed to the spot where we had sugar beets and apples last fall.

I'm not sure what she found, but she was there for several minutes before she went off to join Mama.

They've been with the other local deer for the last few months - yarded up in Eagle River - avoiding the deeper snow in these higher elevations of the peninsula - and sheltering under the trees at the shoreline. We're so happy to see them back again. And, they're looking pretty healthy this year - thanks to regular winter feedings by the Calumet-Keweenaw Sportsmen's Club and other groups.

All is well in the Keweenaw.