We were expecting Bears and what we got was Deer. All of the research and information we read about Shenandoah National Park talked about Bears. It seemed like you would go for a casual stroll and just see a handful of bears right along the side of the road. Talk of bear boxes and proper storage of food. Reading about the highest concentrations of black bears. Constant mentions of bears on every piece of content.

We were excited to see bears. We were a little disappointed that we didn’t. I am glad they make sure everyone is well prepared and informed about bear safety.

But we were not prepared for how many deer there were. We see deer on a regular basis where we live. We are always cautions when we drive because they are everywhere along our road, especially in the mornings and evenings.

But the deer at Shenandoah National Park take it to a whole different level. The deer are everywhere. And the deer do not care that you are there.

As you drive along the beautiful Skyline Drive and enjoy the scenery you are already driving slowly because, well its a twisty turny scenic mountain road of which you will drive right off a cliff if you are not paying attention. And then you have to pump the breaks a lot because often their are one two or three deer just standing along the road eating. Or maybe just standing IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. They are beautiful and they are everywhere. Keep your head on a swivel.

I am used to pulling into my driveway to find deer standing in my front yard. Sometimes they don’t even run away as I get out of my car and go in the house. But I have never been sitting at a campsite relaxing and just have a deer walk right up, browsing away on the bushes. They have a nice path cleared through the shrubs and emerge right in the middle of the campsite. Standing just across the picnic table from us. Then they cross the park road to eat next to the giant motorhome at the next campsite.

The deer were so unafraid of us humans that they even walked right into our campsites with their young fawns. I have never seen fawns so bold. Usually in my area, fawns are a rare sight. The young deer stay on the keep it secret keep it safe side of things. But in this beautiful park they had no compunction about emerging from the woods right in front of our eyes.

Then there was Big Meadows. I was really excited about the wildlife watching opportunities at Big Meadows. I was hoping to see a bear, but of course did not. But I could not believe how many deer we saw.

Walking out in the meadow the deer would just walk right past you. Or slowly make there way in your direction while eating. Never giving you a second thought the entire time.

The fawns here were just as brazen as the adults. Running and playing and chasing each other around despite the presence of humans. The fawns didn’t even care if their elders walked away. The younglings would just do whatever they wanted to do. Sometimes that meant following mama other times it meant goofing off on their own. And occasionally realizing mom had wandered off and running to catch up.

One day we spent almost the entire afternoon at Big Meadows. We relaxed and read books. And I walked around in the meadows a few times. But at one point we were just sitting up near the visitors center and a large female deer walked out of the meadow. Crossed the road. And just continued to walk right towards where we were sitting. She had the entire place to explore and was choosing to walk right up to us. She meandered through the field eating grass. I had my long lens and teleconverter set up to photograph way out into the meadow and here I was with a deer right in front of me. The deer was so close I almost couldn’t get a photograph of it with my current camera set up.

It was so nice to see wildlife so calm and relaxed. Unafraid of their surroundings. That is really what a National Park should be like.

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