May 27, 2016 was a unusually hot and humid one here in Central Ma. It was 1pm, 90+ degrees and not a single cloud in the sky. I was working in my barn located just 100 feet from the main house, all windows and doors were open to take advantage of any breezes that day. My Doberman Pincher, Kalo, was stretched out and napping in the doorway. Suddenly he sprang up, exited the door, and turned his gaze toward our 10 acre field.In an instant he charged down toward the field with a kind of growling and body language I had never seen him exhibit. He was all business. Surprised and curious by his behavior I exited the barn onto the porch and stared into the field. I saw nothing. Kalo, however , was pacing the perimeter of his electric fence, desperate to break through and pursue something……...but I saw nothing. I summoned Kalo to the house and left him inside. Still curious I returned to the Barn Porch and scanned the field. There in the tall grass, just twenty feet beyond Kalo’s electric fence, I noticed a pair of pointed ears. Walking toward the spot I can remember thinking why this coyote or fox isn’t getting up and running!
Well is wasn’t a “creature” after all, it was a tiny new fawn awake and alert, but unable to stand.Knowing this is not a uncommon event I returned to the Barn to watch for Mom’s return. For the next two hours I watched the little fawn struggle to stand without success. Still no Mom and it’s only getting hotter outside. Time to intervene. I walked back to the fawn who by this time was exhausted and very dehydrated. I scooped it up, returned to the barn and made a soft bed for it. Back to the house for an old Baby Bottle and some filtered water. Lexi, within seconds, took to the bottle and nipple and quenched her thirst.Called my wife thereafter and asked her to come home from her office…...I had a surprise for her. Moments after hanging up the phone I returned to the porch and witnessed the first piece of the puzzle. A single Coyote had entered the field and was systematically traversing through the grass. He was here to recover his Lunch! I later named this Coyote “Persistent” as he returned on a regular basis for almost three days!Anyway...my wife returns home, enters the barn and thus begins the story of Lexi and “his” new Mom.
