The Deer at Elderberry Wisdom Farm

Renee Dompier (Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians)

Native Plant Nursery Assistant

When I first became an intern at EWF, I heard that deer that would walk through the yard and nibble on the elderberry plants and anything else that wasn’t fenced in, so I was so excited by the aspect of getting to see one. I hadn’t seen any for a long while, mostly because I live in the city. 

As my internship progressed, I waited and waited for a chance to see them, which finally came in the winter. I was so thrilled to see a forked horn go through the back of the property. Then in the spring, I saw a doe pass through the native plant nursery with 2 twins that still had their spots!! The cutest fawn ever! Since then, I have seen 2 more sets of twins come through and a spike. 

Photo of deer at EWF

I haven’t seen the first forked horn again sadly, but I’m sure he is still out there making more twins, and the spike is now the forked horned king of the farm. One of the new interns and I even saw him looking in on us through the window this summer.  She was as thrilled as I was the first time I saw my forked horn!