Look who’s taking a swim

You have to look closely. It’s not a log. It’s not a a dog. It’s a white-tail deer, taking a swim late in October, when Long Lake was already very cold. An internet search (do deer swim) reveals what apparently everyone but me already knew, confirmed by many youtube videos. Yes, deer swim. They are quite expert at a “dog paddle” stroke. Hard to imagine how those long spindly legs work for swimming, but deer have been clocked swimming ten miles per hour. Apparently they typically take to the water to escape predators. Some believe they set out in search of better grazing, but I’m skeptical of that.