COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | JULY 22, 2021 | 3A
Betty Kaiser: Chatterbox
Dealing with Deer
Betty Kaiser
You would think that
after many years of flow-
er bed and vegetable gar-
den destruction by deer,
my husband and I would
be used to it. We are not.
However, this year we
softened a little when a
mama deer brought her
two tiny twin fawns to the
property. So there were
now three parttime resi-
dents.
I was a city girl when we
moved here and I thought
that the deer would only
be interested in eating
meadow grass. Wrong!
We quickly became aware
that anything that we
planted was fair game.
Summer after summer,
night after night, plants
were wiped out complete-
ly.
In 2001, I even posted
some chomping rules in
the newspaper. I know
that deer can’t read but
it made me feel better. It
went like this:
“Now, Dancer and
Prancer, we are reasonable
landlords. We are willing
to share five of our six-
acre meadow with you.
The catch being that we
maintain complete con-
trol over the one-acre that
includes all of our flower
and vegetable beds. The
roses and all other edibles
are mine! Got it?
If, my ‘deer’ friends, you
don’t agree, it’s time for
you to move on. You need
to dance and prance off to
the nearby parks where
the campers will appreci-
ate you. Blackberry season
is right around the corner
so you won’t go hungry.
And don’t forget to visit
our neighbors. Some of
them are very generous
and probably still serv-
ing USDA approved deer
food.
Despite our persistence,
nothing worked to deter
their destructive rounds.
Not blood meal, deodor-
ant soap, hair clippings,
bright lights, clanging
bells or barking dogs
worked. They would even
walk up our deck to de-
vour hanging plants. Each
flower bed massacre really
ticked us off !
Our dogs barking in the
middle of night were of
no help. The electric fence
didn’t always work, auto-
matic lights made eating
easier and they seemed
to like the sprinkler sys-
tem. “Deer Away” was our
best bet but putting it out
nightly was a nuisance.
So, I proposed a truce.
“We do have other of-
ferings, you know. How
about this: I’ll smell the
roses while you munch
the meadow. Deal or no
deal? It’s your choice.
(Signed) Your rosy land-
lords.” There was no an-
swer.
This year, when the
young Mama Deer with
tiny spotted twins, start-
ed visiting us, they didn’t
eat the roses! Instead, they
would have breakfast next
door and then jump the
fence to our “deer forest.”
Mom would leave her ba-
bies here while she went
looking for food and then
return to pick them up
and all would disappear
for the night.
It was a fine arrange-
ment. Normally, healthy
fawns are left alone during
the day by their mothers
while she forages for food.
Mom will stay away from
them during daylight
hours to avoid leading
predators to her young.
She will return and always
gather her babies togeth-
er unless she senses some
kind of danger.
Last week, however, for
several days in a row, one
baby deer disappeared.
And there were only 2 of
them. We were terrified.
After all, there are cou-
gars and bears up the hill!
Finally, last Sunday, the
three of them surprised us
in the middle of the day
by tearing through the
property and jumped the
fence to safety elsewhere.
What a relief ! They are
all together again. It was a
safe, mom leadership ar-
rangement and they didn’t
eat the roses! They must
know how to read after
all! Now I may now have
to eat my words and let
them have a few flowers
to nibble on.
Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at
942-1317
or
email
bchatty@bettykaiser.com
Free rides offered
between Eugene and
Roseburg
Umpqua Public Trans-
portation District (UPTD)
has started a new bus route
called the Lane-Douglas
Connector (LDC).
This new service offers
safe, reliable, accessible
transportation to veterans
and the general public in
rural communities for bet-
ter access to healthcare ser-
vices and shopping oppor-
tunities.
Lane-Douglas Connector
operates from 7:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and
Thursdays with scheduled
stops at the Veterans Affairs
Hospital in Roseburg, Ray’s
Food in Drain, Walmart
and PeaceHealth Medical
Center in Cottage Grove,
and the Veterans Affairs
Clinic in Eugene (LTD bus
stop nearby).
The stop in Drain serves
as a connection point for
passengers of the North
Douglas Betterment shuttle.
The route is operated by
South Lane Wheels as a pi-
lot project funded by the
Rural Veterans Healthcare
Transportation grant.
For service information
and timetable go to: www.
southlanetransit.com, or to
schedule a ride, call UPTD
dispatch toll-free at 888-
232-8121.
London Road becomes
‘Safety Corridor’
The “Safety Corridor”
designation on London
Road became effective on
July 4.
Both “Safety Corridor”
and “Fees Double” signage
have been installed. Public
education postcards have
been mailed to the entire
Cottage Grove ZIP code
inviting people to complete
an on-line survey to help
develop a DUII prevention
tool kit.
For more information,
contact Lane County Senior
Transportation
Planner
Becky Taylor by emailing
becky.taylor@lanecountyor.
gov or by calling 541-682-
6932.
Visit the project website
at www.lanecountyor.gov/
LRSC.
Follow these tips to keep
your pet protected in soaring
summer temperatures.
NEVER Leave
Your
Pet in the Car
Even with the windows open, your pet can suffer from fatal heatstroke within minutes
if left in the car. On a 75-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to
100 degrees in just 10 minutes. When it’s 90 degrees outside, the interior of a vehicle can
quickly heat up to 160 degrees.
Starfi re Lumber Company
www.starfi relumber.com
The Bookmine
702 E Main
Cottage Grove
541-942-7414
Protect your pup’s paws by keeping walks to a minimum during the
hottest hours of the day. Hot pavement can burn the sensitive pads of
pet paws, and proximity to the hot ground will cause your pet’s body
to heat up quickly.
Pinocchio’s Pizza
795 E Main St
Cottage Grove
541-942-5531
Brads Cottage Grove
Chevrolet
2775 Row River Rd
Cottage Grove
541-942-4415
Some Pets
Need Sunscreen
Keep Pets
Cool & Hydrated
Make sure pets have access to plenty of drinking water,
and avoid exercising your pet during the hottest times of
the day. Keep pets inside during periods of extreme heat,
and make sure they have access to shade when outdoors.
Hoyer Accounting
516 E Whiteaker Ave
Cottage Grove
541-942-8241
Avoid Hot Sidewalks
& Pavement
Adventure! Children’s Museum
490 Valley River Center
Eugene
541 653-9629
Pets with fi ne hair and pink skin can suffer from sunburn, and should be
protected with a sunscreen product formulated for animals. Talk to your
vet about which type of sunscreen is best
for your pet. Keep in mind that shaving your dog leaves them susceptible
to sunburn and overheating, and should be avoided.
Hitch Pro & Tow
4701 W 11th Ave
Eugene
541-434-2403
Cottage Grove Police
Department
400 E Main Street
Cottage Grove
541-942-9145
Fireworks
Frighten Pets
Protect Pets
Around Pools
Booming fi reworks scare many pets. Never use fi reworks
around pets, and keep them sheltered in a
quiet, escape-proof area of your home during fi rework
display times.
Many dogs can’t swim, and should always be supervised when
in the water or around pools. Put a pet life preserver on your pet
whenever boating, and be sure to rinse his or her coat of chlorine
or salt after swimming!
Fort Rock Construction
33100 Whetham Way
Cottage Grove
541-767-1611
Old Mill Farm Store
327 S River Road
Cottage Grove
541-942-3042
South Willamette Veterinary
Clinic
255 Emerald Pkwy
Creswell
541 895-5665
Companion Animal Clinic
5620 Main Street
Springfi eld
541-747-2307
Keep Away
Edible Hazards
Know the Signs
of Heat Exhaustion
Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets at summer cookouts,
and be mindful of toxic lawn and garden insecticides that may be
harmful to dogs and cats if ingested. If you suspect your pet has
eaten a poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center at 888.426.4435 immediately.
Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, vomiting, diarrhea,
unsteady legs, bright red or blue gums and tongue, and excessive
drooling. If your dog shows these symptoms, move to a cool spot and place
cool, wet cloths on his or her neck, in armpits and between hind legs. Give
your dog access to cool water, and gently wet ears and paw pads. Placing
heat-distressed pets in ice water can lead to shock and should be avoided.
Overheated dogs should be brought to a vet as soon as possible.
Goldworks Jewelry
169 E. Broadway
Eugene
541-343-2298
Rogers & Son
1324 East Main St
Cottage Grove
541-942-0500
Cottage Grove Sentinel
1498 E. Main Street, STE 104
Cottage Grove
541-942-3325