Although it hardly seems like spring is near, the signs that the season is beginning to change are all around. Grasses are becoming green in southern Pennsylvania and the buds are about to burst into leaves soon. The red hue on the ridge tops will be green in a few weeks’ time. As the season changes, we are entering the twilight of our deer trapping season.
This past week was originally slated as our last trapping week. However, we were asked to push a little bit more to get our deer collars out. I heard of a bonus week — maybe a little more or a little less. As low man on the totem pole, I am often the last to know of these plans. Frustrating as this may be, I must accept that this position is open ended, without a firm end date. What I do know for sure is that I will not be staying in Martinsburg past April.
As another sign of the season changing, one of our crewmates and my housemate has left for another job. This is to be expected and our supervisors are well aware that the summer fields seasons will be starting soon. Our crew began with six and we are now down to four. My winter deer trapping household started with four and is now down to only two. Luckily, we are able to get out of our lease early and will not have to carry the financial burden of the farmhouse between the two of us.
Speaking of summer jobs, I’m looking forward to my opportunity this summer. I will be employed by Penn State as a crew lead with the Deer-Forest Study doing vegetation monitoring in the state forests of Rothrock and Bald Eagle. This is not quite full circle. Although my first job in this new career of mine was as a field forest technician on this same study, I’m excited to take on and explore this leadership role. More so, as time goes on, I find myself thinking more like an ecologist rather than a biologist. Obviously both are closely related and I see myself as both to some degree but I’m eager to return to the plots that we have applied treatment (enclosures, lime, and herbicide) and observe any changes. In this position, I’m also very close to the research. I get to pick the mind of my boss and friend who pioneered this study. Looking back, I’ve gained some of the greatest satisfaction with the Deer-Forest Study by way of personal and professional relationships and knowledge gained. Plus, I work a four day workweek and get to go home for long weekends. I can’t wait to see Jill more often and get back to my personal pursuits.
Getting back to the theme at hand, deer trapping has changed substantially since the cold days of winter. Deer seem much harder to catch. Of course, everyone has their own opinion as to why this is the case. I tend to see it as a mixture of characters. Perhaps the deer simply prefer those big delicious buds over our soggy corn. Maybe the risk of going under the net in the presence of foreign smells (our crew) and those big PGC trucks isn’t worth the reward of corn and Buck Jam when preferred browse is available. And as cold winter changes into warmer springtime temperatures, deer simply don’t need the energy to keep warm. That quick hit of carbs may not be relished anymore. I’m sure that any of the hypotheses that I heard can be tested and I’m sure there is some truth in all of them.
What I do know for sure is that the deer are shedding heavily. Hair is everywhere and I’m covered with the stuff whenever I tackle one. As you know, I wear a mask and do my best to mitigate my allergies. However, I can’t escape it now. Even with a nighttime shower, I wake up in the morning with itchy eyes and a dull sinus headache. Add this to the wonderful essence of springtime mud. I’m sure that you could picture me covered in deer hair — looking like a Wookie!
Many of you will agree that it’s been a long and finicky winter. Many of you are ready for the season to change. In a way, so am I. Although I developed the uncanny ability to adapt to most weather, I’m ready for the mild temperatures and sunny days of spring. I’m ready to see more green in the landscape and see those animals return from their winter migrations. I heard my first woodcock of the season peent in a farmer’s field the other evening! As I get fidgety from doing the same thing for the last three months and so, I’m ready for the challenge and excitement of the next chapter.