Normally, I enjoy getting laughs as much as the folks who perform on Comedy Central. However, there are times when I do not appreciate being laughed at. Last Monday night was one of those times.
Driving home at dusk, through a residential area, I saw a deer up ahead doing the usual, "Should I cross or shouldn't I?" dance. He made it across the street and the car ahead of me unwisely drove on. Having deer cross my path daily, I knew to stop and wait. Where there's one, there's a herd. Sure enough, seven more came from behind a house, itching to follow their leader, but acting all wishywashy. By this time, there were two cars coming from the opposite direction, who had also stopped.
Following Internet protocol, I began honking my horn. According to websites like Geico and Car and Driver, short blasts of the horn will cause the deer to react and either cross the road or turn around and head the other way. I've been using this tip for years and it works every time.
Apparently, my technique is strange and novel to others, because I often get weird looks. But this time, the senior citizen in the car going the opposite way found my actions to be hilarious. He drove slowly past me, staring and roaring with laughter. I know this because my window was down and he was looking right at me. Whatever, dude!
Now, THIS is funny:
Driving home at dusk, through a residential area, I saw a deer up ahead doing the usual, "Should I cross or shouldn't I?" dance. He made it across the street and the car ahead of me unwisely drove on. Having deer cross my path daily, I knew to stop and wait. Where there's one, there's a herd. Sure enough, seven more came from behind a house, itching to follow their leader, but acting all wishywashy. By this time, there were two cars coming from the opposite direction, who had also stopped.
Following Internet protocol, I began honking my horn. According to websites like Geico and Car and Driver, short blasts of the horn will cause the deer to react and either cross the road or turn around and head the other way. I've been using this tip for years and it works every time.
Apparently, my technique is strange and novel to others, because I often get weird looks. But this time, the senior citizen in the car going the opposite way found my actions to be hilarious. He drove slowly past me, staring and roaring with laughter. I know this because my window was down and he was looking right at me. Whatever, dude!
Now, THIS is funny:
Evidently, the deer in North Dakota are a lot smarter than the ones here. Ours can't read signs at all. . .
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, don't let the idiots harsh yer peace. . .
Everything in North Dakota is . . .I have no idea!
DeleteIs she for real? Stoned? Kidding? I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteA deer here crashed through a plus size clothing store windown, looked at himself in the mirror, and left! He was fine.
There are really dumb people out there and I've met my fair share of them.
DeleteBwhahahahhahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteOMG...that video was HILARIOUS! And I cannot believe she couldn't hear those people snickering at her over the radio.
And as for the guy laughing at you...exactly..."Whatever, dude!"
X
I'm guessing the guy thought I was the one who was confused by the deer? I don't know, I've been honking at them for years and it does the trick.
DeleteIt's not every day I have a herd of deer crossing in front of my vehicle, but the next time I do, I'll be sure to give your tip a try...even if it does illicit laughter from passing cars!
ReplyDeleteSo you don't have a lot of deer in the Northwest? It's crazy here, but really has only gotten bad in the last 10 years.
DeleteOr, you know, "elicit." Ha! Wonder where my mind was??
ReplyDeleteBlame autocorrect!
DeleteIndeed, what's so funny about sounding your horn and getting the deer to do something? Some people are weird.
ReplyDeleteAs for the woman who thought the deer crossing sign was an invitation to deer to cross the road safely, someone needs to have a quiet word in her ear about what the sign actually means....
Maybe I'm just impatient. I don't have all day for the deer to make up their minds!
DeleteThe government does waste money, but not in the way she was thinking!
she's likely for real and she's not alone. there have been any number of phone calls and numerous letters to the editor suggesting the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI worked with a c-slicker who said this about varmints in general as well as about turtles at a local turtle crossing.
they're out there
I have no doubt she is for real.
DeleteThat geezer who laughed at you sounds like a real loser. You should've honked at him. That lady on the radio show, however, is beyond all hope.
ReplyDeleteOn I had the urge to do more than honk at him, but my daughter was in the car.
Deleteyou're right on all counts...waiting for the herd, honking, and the astonishing stupidity of some people being worth a good laugh,
ReplyDeleteYou sound experienced in the matter!
DeleteI remember hearing that "routine" with the lady wanting the deer crossing signs changed before and laughing my head off; I think she was totally serious about it too :)
ReplyDeleteI also remember living in Montana the casualties of deer versus car and it seemed like everyone you knew had a deer caught in the headlights type of story and usually the deer lost. We thankfully never hit a deer in the 8 years we lived there, but had a few close encounters.
I think you were wise to follow whatever protocol to try to keep everyone safe on the road!
betty
I've been hit twice by deer. I did not hit them, they both jumped right at me when I was going under 25 mph.
DeleteHave only tapped one deer over the many years but have had 3 get hit out front and die in our yard and another 2 in neighbors yards.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, venison ....
We had one die in our backyard a few years back. No where near cars. Old age or disease, possibly starvation!
Deletethat phone call is classic - puts new light on how dangerous it is for deer to cross roads when there are people like that driving on them
ReplyDeletewe have similar issues with kangaroos - not in the metro areas, but driving at night in rural area's they can be a real hazard.
We have an Aussie 'Outback' at our zoo that has a lot of wallabies and a small kiddie train that runs through the park. Often, one wallaby will sit on the track and stop the train. My son thought that was hilarious when he was about 8 yrs old.
DeleteI would hate to hit a kangaroo! That was my college mascot!
I'd love to know why that person found it so funny. Maybe he was stoned. I followed a pickup today that had a woman in the back seat smoking a joint and laughing her ass off as she looked at me.
ReplyDeleteThe guy was at least 70, which was weird to me. Maybe he just moved here from an area without deer so the whole thing was new to him? Who knows?
DeleteI would not have been happy with your situation and am afraid I'd have used a finger or two......
i honk for any living animal except for humans. they make me sick sometimes. they walk in the street when there's a perfectly good sidewalk. animals don't know better, so they get a pass.
ReplyDeleteYou are too much, Val! I know what you mean, as it makes me mad when people do that (unless sidewalks are snow covered)
DeleteI like your strategy and hope laughing driver dude is embarrassed later. We live in a rural area with lots of deer. I had not had any problems until one year about 6 years ago--3 times a deer bounced off of my car as I was driving for work early in the morning. My luck had run out.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Three times in one morning? I'd have thought it was the apocalypse.
DeleteAs for your honking technique I have never used it but it definitely makes a lot of sense. Pay no mind to those who don't understand logic.
ReplyDeleteAs for the video, is she serious?!? I kept waiting for a "gotcha!" or something. No one can be that stupid can they???
There's a lot of stupid out there!!!
DeleteThat's weird. I don't see why it was so funny. Seems pretty common sense to me (much like knowing when there is one deer others are soon to follow). Maybe the guy is just super jolly and find humor in everything. ?????
ReplyDeleteI've heard that radio conversation before. Unbelievable, isn't it? It takes all kinds I guess. Still hard to believe.
Also love the DJs reaction to what the woman is saying. He can barely contain his laughter. Insane. Good grief.
ReplyDeleteYou need a sense of humor when dealing with the public!
DeleteThat guy who honked sounded like a real jerk. :-/
ReplyDeleteYou mean who laughed?
Delete