THEY LEAPT LIKE BALLERINAS across the dirt trail, white tutu tails flashing.
They were a herd of 11 deer sighted recently at Faribault’s River Bend Nature Center. I stood on Raccoon Trail aside Randy simply watching. One after the other they leapt with such grace, such practiced precision.
Only moments earlier, as we hiked down Arbor Trail on the nature center’s northeast side, Randy touched my arm, motioning me to stop. There, ahead of us, across the intersecting dirt path, several deer lingered in lowland grasses. I didn’t initially see them, my distance vision not all that acute. But eventually I spotted the camouflaged deer.
And then we saw more in the distance, nearer the Prairie Loop. There, barely visible behind trees.
A sense of wonderment, of awe, of just wanting to take in the scene before me overtook my spirit. Such moments in nature deserve full attention. We watched while two men walked right past us, unaware of the nearby deer so engaged were they in conversation.
We waited, whisper-quiet. Watching. Then the deer moved, ambling along the edge of tall dried grasses, staying parallel to the trail. Soon more deer emerged from a stand of trees and trailed the first traveling troupe. It was a sight, the endless stream of deer moving east.
Our attention turned that direction, toward the deer, one by one, long-leaping over Raccoon Trail, into the woods, up the hill, toward the prairie. We started counting. One, two, three…all the way to eleven. Only when the last deer exited the stage did we dare move, so mesmerized were we by the performance.
Randy and I resumed our hike, following Raccoon Trail until the biting wind of the March evening prompted us to turn back. By that time we were talking again or walking in comfortable silence. I wished aloud that I had my 35 mm camera with me. I’ve never been this near so many deer at River Bend. Eleven. But perhaps it was better I was without my camera so I could focus on the moment rather than on focusing and framing images.
Then, back at the intersection of Raccoon and Arbor Trails, Randy alerted me to more deer. Five this time. Standing statute still, without stage fright. Watching us. Us watching them in a stare-down. I wondered which of us would move first. Wildlife or human.
I ooohed over the cute babies, last year’s fawns. Even if deer are dreadful when darting onto roadways and unwanted when dining on garden flowers and vegetables, I appreciate them in their natural habitat. This is their home, their stage, this land of tall grasses and woods. Here they walk with elegance. Here they leap with the grace of seasoned ballet dancers. Here they give me pause to stop, to listen to the trill of red-winged blackbirds as we watch each other—deer and human—in the fading light of a March evening at River Bend.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
what an amazing, beautiful, lucky experience you had, nature put on such a fine show for you on this beautiful day,. I agree about the camera question, it may have distracted you a bit and you really didn’t want to miss a second of this. these beautiful deer knew they were safe to show you the lovely ballet they had been practicing in a place they are comfortable and call home.
It was quite the experience, Beth. And, yes, I need to be in the moment. I’ve actually been carrying my camera around less and less. As much as I enjoy photography, I don’t want to miss out on the full experience. This doing less photography started due to my vision and subsequent eye surgery.
Audrey, I really enjoy reading your stories every morning. You are able to grasp the pure essence of nature. That is how I ride through the woods too. The peacefulness is so calming. I am so thankful my horses enjoy the pause too.
Thank you for your words.
Kyle Paulson Membership Director Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Kyle, thank you for your kind words this morning. I love that you enjoy nature too, while riding a horse.
These two sentences you wrote: “A sense of wonderment, of awe, of just wanting to take in the scene before me overtook my spirit. Such moments in nature deserve full attention.” Truly beautiful heart-felt words.
Thank you, Rose. Sometimes the words just flow from my heart to my fingers to the keyboard. And that, for me, is the poetic beauty of writing.
How fun to see so many deer at once. Truly a gift.
It was incredible. I was so in awe of God’s creation as I watched those deer on that beautiful March evening.
That is a fabulous capture ! We have a herd of 16 that regularly walk through our yard and they are in the process of losing their winter coats and look a little scruffy. We love when the fawns are born as one mama always chooses the little island across from our house. We watch her swim back and forth and cheer her on as she tries to hide her baby from predators. We have probably too large of a population in our neighborhood but they sure are fun to watch. My neighbor always texts me with “herd alert” in the morning when they come through.
What fun, to often see that many deer in your neighborhood. But…then your plants and flowers…
You just kind of learn what to let. go of….I don’t fret too much anymore. I have raised containers on my deck for my herbs and the flowers in the front and back for the most part are deer resistant. Until they aren’t. You just can’t predict when the babies come what they will try to nibble on. I spray and try to keep up with stuff but with rain and travel those plans don’t always work. But I have learned what NOT to plant, that is for sure!
You have a good attitude about your neighborhood deer.