Where the Deer and The Buffalo Roam

FTLComm - Winnipeg - Wednesday, July 3, 2002

Though Winnipeg's airport is located right within the city it is surrounded with a lot of open spaces. This green area seen here has dense apartment dwellings on one side, the airport and industrial park on the other and the air base on one side so that it is a lush green paddock in a city. It is also home to a wide range of wildlife.

Last night as we came home from a bike ride in the area we spotted these five calmly grazing white tails and a sixth just to the West. They all seemed unpreturbed by our presence much the same as the Jack Rabbit sitting on a lawn, the bush rabbit I saw a half hour earlier and the host of birds that find this an ideal setting in which to conduct their lives. There is a serious lesson to be learned here. With dogs being restricted and hunting impossible in a city the Deer and many other animals have nothing but dodging cars to fear. They live in a safe environment a good and civilised place. It is surprising how hard it is for humans to achieve this same level of safety and tranquility for their place to live.