This female deer is missing her right front leg. With only moderate snow depth, she may survive
Late last year I saw an Iowa County deer feeding in an alfalfa field mid-morning. Because this was a bit unusual time, I stopped to watch her. It soon became obvious she was missing her right front leg. Before jumping to the conclusion as to how she lost the leg, if in fact she did, one has to wonder if she will survive the winter. Her survival is likely to depend on snow depth and cold weather, which could impede her ability for acquire food. Several things come to mind regarding her missing leg. A gun shot or arrow wound are possibilities, but so is a vehicle accident or even a farm implement when she was a fawn. And maybe she was born missing that front leg. I did not have an opportunity to view the right side of Tripod as she loped out of the field, through a drainage ditch and up the other side. By Jerry Davis
