Have you ever witnessed a changing of the guard?
Maybe you’ve visited Arlington National Cemetery. I remember a family vacation, 1970-something, where we watched the guards changing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The stirring tribute to these unidentified heroes made an impression on my high-school brain that exists to this day.
Or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see one of the world’s most famous changing of the guard: the ceremony that occurs every other day (and daily during summer months) at London’s Buckingham Palace. The new guard exchanges duty with the old, accompanied by a military band and ritualized movements that date back almost 400 years.
Then we have the changing of the guard that’s taking place right now, right here in St. Charles. It brings no pageantry, no pomp, but it definitely is attached to a significant amount of circumstance.
Let me explain.
Some of you may remember that, just over a year ago, two robust whitetail bucks battled over territory in a St. Charles woodland. During their epic duel, their antlers became inextricably interlocked; in the ensuing hours one and then the other passed away.
In an effort to preserve the memory of these magnificent animals, the St. Charles Park District naturalist staff harvested the bucks’ heads and buried them over the winter. We dug them up in spring and transferred them to a large vat of water, which was changed regularly over the summer.
On Monday I removed the now-clean skulls and brought them back to Hickory Knolls to begin the final touch up work. (For those of you wondering, we hope to have the skulls, along with interpretive signs detailing the bucks’ legacy, on display in early 2016. Watch this space for future updates.)
As the deer’s remains were undergoing their transformation, so too was the white-tailed deer hierarchy in the nearby natural areas. Up until last November, these two big boys ruled the woods in and around St. Charles. With a combined weight of more than 600lbs., with racks that numbered 14 points and 17 points each, they were without a doubt the Old Guard among our local Odocoileus virginianus.
Their absence created a void. But not for long.
A few weeks ago I was at Delnor Woods Park around dusk, and noticed some activity by a mulberry tree with low-hanging branches. In the dim light I at first wasn’t sure what I was looking at. But as the jiggling of twigs continued, and I quietly crept closer, I realized the movement was being caused by a young whitetail buck browsing on the then still-green leaves.
His profile was slim, indicating he was probably a first-year buck. His antlers were also indicative of a novice. I couldn’t quite see how many points he’d attained, but I would guess somewhere in the range of four to six.
I tried to get a picture of this new arrival, but succeeded in capturing only some nifty eyeshine (a reflection of my camera flash) amid the gathering darkness. In subsequent trips to Delnor Woods, I’ve caught glimpses of the Little Guy, often in the area that in years past had been frequented by the departed 14-point buck.
Then last week I went to Norris Woods, also in St. Charles, on some nature-related business. While I didn’t see any deer on that particular day, I did spot some obvious evidence of their presence: bark hanging in tatters from the trunk of a small tree. A buck had rubbed—vigorously, I might add—his forehead and antlers there, leaving his scent and an unmistakable sign behind.
His invitation—both to other bucks who would like to challenge him, as well as to does seeking mates—is easy to find, if you’d like to go take a look. It’s on the south side of the paved path that runs west from Third Avenue, about two-thirds of the way down toward the crushed lime of the Fox River Bike Trail.
So there you have it. While there are no solemn-faced soldiers, colorful flags or marching bands, the evidence is undeniable. The old bucks have gone away, and a changing of the guard, white-tailed deer style, is underway. Don’t miss your chance to see it.
Pam Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, a facility of the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.
November 20, 2015
Changing of the Guard-
Whitetale Bucks
Here’s the rub: Tattered bark near the base of a tree is a sure sign that white-tailed bucks are active in the area. This rub also indicates a changing of the guard among deer in St. Charles.