Mule Deer leaping over a fence, Box Elder County, UtahMule Deer leaping over a fence – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Earlier this month I photographed a Yellow-bellied Marmot and a Golden Eagle while traveling up in northern Utah to look for birds to photograph, it wasn’t a super birdy day but I was happy to get out in the fresh air, the sunshine and it helped with my cabin fever. I loved the marmot photos I took that day and even though I only had a few seconds with the Golden Eagle I was at least pleased with the perched shots I took of it.

The Yellow-bellied Marmot wasn’t the only mammal I saw and photographed that day, I also saw a small herd of Mule Deer crossing the road to head up the slope. I didn’t have time to remove my teleconverter before the deer decided to jump the fence and I knew I might clip parts of the deer as they sailed over the barbed wire. I got lucky and the first Mule Deer that leaped over the fence filled my viewfinder and I didn’t clip anything. This image is full frame of her leaping over the fence, any closer and I would have had clipped body parts and ruined images. If her legs hadn’t been drawn up as she sailed over the fence they would have been in my delete bin too.

Seeing the image again I felt a bit sad this morning for all the road blocks we put in wildlife’s way, for all the things we build or create that put them at risk of harm. We aren’t a very kind species.

But there are those of us who care, who will fight for the birds and animals and I find comfort in that.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Mule Deer photos plus facts and information about this species.