The Circle of Life

There are times that living on a farm and in the country expose us to Nature at her harshest, we occasionally see things that are unpleasant. This morning was one such time.

When I took the dogs out this morning, I noticed that the electric netting around the pullets was down in the back. Having just been out there posting up netting that was shorting out on the ground and sparking at midnight, I got a bit concerned. My first thought was that something had gotten in after the chickens. I did a quick check in their house on my way around to check out the breach, and they all seemed to be there and doing alright.

When I turned the corner toward the problem, I caught a glimpse of reddish tan fur with white spots. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" I cried as dashed toward the little fawn who was tangled in the electric fence. Her little body was already stiff and cold, so I was too late to rescue her. In fact, it took several of us to unwrap and untangle the slender little legs and tiny black hooves.

J, who is still learning about how brutal life on a farm or in the country can be, was incredibly disturbed by the sight.  We explained that this accident was not something that we could have ever predicted or even expected.  In fact, JP wondered whether it was being chased by a predator for it to get so ensnared in the fence. 

Tearfully, J asked if we could have a funeral for the fawn.  Neither JP or I wanted to dig a hole big and deep enough for a fawn in the 94* blazing sun, so we decided to take the body up to the meadow, and allow the vultures to have a meal or two.  In this way, the fawn would have a bigger purpose in life and death than merely tragically dying in our chicken fence.

So, we had another life lesson up here on the hill about the circle of life.  The girls were able to watch how a life and death could provide life for others, and allow the circle to continue.  Perhaps in a couple of weeks, we'll go up the hill to the meadow and look at the little bones to marvel how wonderfully made was the little fawn that happened into our lives.