What a Neat Find

While mowing around our property yesterday, Robert found this antler that was shed by a White-tailed deer. From his perspective, it was an incredible hazard that I might have run over when out on the golf cart, possibly destroying a tire and leaving me unable to get back to the house!

From my perspective, I found it exquisitely beautiful in so many different ways.

The photo above reminds me of a pianist’s fingers…or…a witch’s hand! Quite the dichotomy, there.

Robert was shocked to hear that I had actually traveled down “the corridor” near the old house just a couple of hours before he went out to mow. He said, “and you didn’t see it?”

Before I got the chance to answer, he added, “oh, you are always looking up for the birds.” He was right.

The perspective above, of the same, single shed antler, reminds me of a whale’s tail!

White-tailed deer are quite numerous in our area. It’s not uncommon for us to see deer on our property, especially around dusk. They are a crepuscular species. I usually only spot solitary does or does with their fawns. It’s far less common for me to see a buck. Only the males grow antlers, which they shed annually (between December and March.) I would love to catch a photo of a buck with antler such as these.

The above orientation looks as if a bowl, or other object, could be secured upright between the points. I can imagine how ancient humans used shed antlers for a variety of purposes.

I’m glad my husband spotted the antler before, driving with my eyes looking upwards, I didn’t run over it! I’m even more happy to set it atop a table as an inspiring, natural, organic decoration in my home.