Is this common? Deer and raccoons..

[C.Ann]

Received a letter from a friend today in NJ and she enclosed some photos that she had taken of the wildlife in her backyard.. In one of the photos there is a big buck, 4 other deer, and 6 good sized raccoons all eating something off the ground in the same area.. They were not "spread out" at all.. If any of the deer took a step or two back, they would be stepping on the raccoons!!

Is this common? For them to congregate so closely? The photos are awesome..

 

[cntrygal]

sounds like someone was baiting them with corn...........

 

[C.Ann]

sounds like someone was baiting them with corn...........

I don't think that's likely.. Actually it's a gated 55+ community..

Still - I've never heard of these two types of animals congregating so closely together - and I see plenty of wildlife up at the lake..

Guess I'll ask DD's FIL the next time he's over here..

 

[Imzadi]

I think they are both herbivores so they know neither is a natural enemy.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I've never seen the raccoons with the deer, but the cats that people let run like to hang with the deer. And sometimes the turkeys will cross paths with the deer too.

 

[laurie31]

I don't think that's likely.. Actually it's a gated 55+ community..

Still - I've never heard of these two types of animals congregating so closely together - and I see plenty of wildlife up at the lake..

Guess I'll ask DD's FIL the next time he's over here..

We sometimes put out corn for the deer in our backyard, because we like to watch them. The only thing we'd shoot them with is a camera.

And I think Imazdi is right - since they each know they aren't going to be the others' prey, they don't have any issues sharing their find, whether it was put there intentionally or not.

It sounds like a cool photo - can you post it?

 

[C.Ann]

We sometimes put out corn for the deer in our backyard, because we like to watch them. The only thing we'd shoot them with is a camera.

And I think Imazdi is right - since they each know they aren't going to be the others' prey, they don't have any issues sharing their find, whether it was put there intentionally or not.

It sounds like a cool photo - can you post it?

Thanks for the info..

I don't know how to post photos and she scanned the photos on regular typing paper.. They're quite dark (probably taken at night or close to it - in some of the photos the eyes of the deer are "glowing"), so I'm not even sure they would show up on here..

DGD loved them and wants me to keep them and stick them in one of my scrapbooks.. LOL..

 

[DrCavin]

Very common when there is a food source, I would guess bird seed in this case. Seen lots of pics of deer, turkey & coons eating at the same spot. Now intruduce a coyote & they all scatter

Here are some deer & racoons eating corn from a feeder: