The Peacefulness of Winter at the Graveyard

We read an article in 'The Londoner' about forty deer living at the Woodland Cemetery. Wendy and I have seen them there and snapped some pictures before but we knew that the winter scene with new falling snow would make for some even better photos. When we arrived this afternoon it was perfect with the snow falling in big flakes. The snow in the air and on the ground muffled the sounds and insulated us from the noise of the surrounding city. It made everything very peaceful and quiet. Click on any picture to enlarge.

Here's the article in The Londoner that provoked our visit to Woodland:

Wild deer reside at Woodland Cemetery

Local News

By Evelyn Symons, Special to Londoner

More than 40 deer call Woodland Cemetery on Springbank Drive their home.

In 2004, there were three deer on the property: one buck, and two doe. Today, 40 deer travel on and off the property, heading to the water's edge to drink.

Although people have left buckets of water and food for the deer, it's not necessary, said cemetery manager Kim Campbell.

"The deer are very capable of finding their own food and will become lazy if food is left for them," said Campbell. "If they become reliant on people to feed them, they may loose their fear of humans and that could be detrimental to them."

Campbell also warns people about approaching the animals.

"It's also important to remember how possessive a buck will get of his doe during mating season. If people get too close, they may have an encounter with a buck that they are not ready for."

And not everyone is happy about the uninvited cemetery guests.

"We have had complaints about the deer as they do consume some of the gardens people have planted at the cemetery," Campbell said. "Woodland has gone to great expense trying to protect the flowers and gardens by spraying with a substance that the deer don't like the taste of. But after it rains or it is damp, the spraying has to be done again.

"People come here to honour their loved ones but it's also a place to be honoured by those who are living because it is a beautiful green space," said Campbell. "We have strived to make Woodland part of the community."
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