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She was standing alongside her protective mom near the south end of Applegate Street on the hill above Jacksonville. Like all fawns, she is cute as a bug's ear with those big brown eyes, fuzzy fur and little button of a tail. But she doesn't gambol about like most fawns. Her rear right leg, probably because of a birth defect, is largely nonexistent, dangling in midair, withered and useless. She only has three legs. For the past month I've been watching for her, ever since seeing her as a newborn fawn in the same area. She was hobbling, looking bewildered at her new world. Her mom was gently nudging her along while other deer looked on. I could almost feel my heartstrings being tugged at the sight. As a recovering deer hunter, I've got plenty of deer blood on my hands. I've shot and killed bucks, gutted them and cut venison steaks. My mouth still waters at the memory of a browned back strap steak smothered in mushrooms. But the fire in my belly for hunting flamed out after encountering too many armed morons who are safety-challenged in the woods. Now I'm content to watch deer, particularly those around Jacksonville as I drive to and from work. Nothing beats fawns when it comes to displaying sheer joy for life. Warm and fuzzy all, they are among the most innocent creatures in nature. I've seen a pair of twin fawns chase each other in circles on a green mountain meadow. Just this spring I watched one little spotted fellow gallop up to a young buck in velvet to touch noses. But Tripod is the first three-legged fawn in my experience of more than half a century of being around wildlife. However, I've seen a doe in the Jacksonville vicinity with a missing rear leg — although I haven't spotted her in more than a year. Mark Vargas, district wildlife biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Department, says three-legged deer aren't that rare. "We get reports all year long about deer missing a limb," he says. "A lot of it's from some form of trauma, sometimes it could be a birth defect. "A lot of times they will live out their adult lives," he adds. "They are a lot tougher than humans. The best thing is to just leave the animal alone." Yet he knows our gut reaction to seeing a fawn like Tripod is to try to reach out to help. "As humans, we try to save the life of every animal out there," he says. "That is something your heart might tell you to do. "But we have to remember these are wild animals," he adds. "You want the animal to learn to cope with the wild." It may seem heartless, but the best thing for the little fawn is to let her deal with her challenges, he reiterates. "If it survives, great," he says. "That's the selection process." He's right, of course. Yet, as a biped with a gimpy leg, I like to think I understand a little of what is going on in the little fawn's mind as she tries to cope. But I know that I'm just anthropomorphizing, merely attributing human feelings to an animal. I suppose I do that by even giving her a name. I really don't have a clue how she feels about her leg. Perhaps she accepts it as normal. In fact, I don't even know for sure if the little fawn is a she. Again I'm guessing. But I do know our world is not fawn-friendly. Even in her little world, there are vehicles, predators and disease, risk of the latter danger greatly increased by those who feed deer. Fortunately for her, deer in and around Jacksonville have fewer natural predators than those living farther out in the boonies. But there are still coyotes and an occasional cougar that will cull the deer herds of their old and lame. And speeding drivers kill their share of deer, as evidenced by dead fawns and adult deer crumpled in roadside ditches. I stopped to watch Tripod for a moment Tuesday evening. She was navigating fine among the oak trees, following her mom. The muscles in her three limbs appear to be developing well. She walks with assurance now, albeit with a limp. But I'll worry about the little fawn. I'm only human. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or at [email protected] Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Entertainment Guide Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Men's Clothing Debt Help