Deer Migration

Here's what we know: mule deer migrate. We know basically where they go, we know that they cross state, federal, and private lands with no regard to ownership or taxes, and they don't tell us their state of residence. We know that they could not get enough food without migrating, so hindering it might mean no more deer. We know that development puts a damper in their plans. We know it's important to keep recreational vehicles away from them because they are pretty easily frightened.

We know all of this. And yet, somehow, it is really crucial to tag and track these deer, with whatever effect that has to their social order (something we don't know), and with whatever effect to their personal health (also something we're not too sure about), so that we know where they go.

Which we already know.

Probably, it has something to do with putting together a PowerPoint presentation on the effects of development and traffic on deer so that we can tell everyone just how much we know, to minute and tedious detail (which is easy to tune out if you're not really up to date on your deer and wildlife data, which means you'll already know this stuff, right?). Because PowerPoint is vital to the universe. So that we can, perhaps, not develop quite so much where the deer are, or drive our cars on the roads specially crafted for the them, rather than through the deer route.

Probably it also has something to do with people needing something to do. Needing something to learn all the nuance of before it slowly disappears.

But, hey, I can't complain too much about it. If it does help the deer maintain their corridor relatively free of people being mean, then do it.