Excavator saves deer - GIF

[Jon]

Excavator saves deer.



Previously:

excavator prepares and serves hot dog
Swinging around on excavator bucket
Excavator playing goalie in giant soccer game GIF
Self-loading excavator GIF
Excavator slicing tree GIF
baby excavator hatching in the wild

[olderdan]

Nice heartwarming GIF, great skills from the excavator operator. I liked the look of astonishment from the deer as it looked back.

[Toolmaker51]

The situation is clear, Rainwater creates sinkhole, deer wanders or slips in. Without webbed feet, zero chance surviving cold, exhaustion, drowning.
Watching this, not a dry eye in the house. You have to appreciate the operators skill, manipulating 40? tons of equipment, developed usually knocking over structures, and the spot inside head or heart for creatures.

[12bolts]

Got to wonder what is going through the deers mind. Was it resigned to death? Was it terrified of the huge monster that rumbled and growled above it, before said monster gently cradled it and lifted it to salvation? Does that sort of thing imprint on a young animal and will perhaps no longer be (so) scared of mans' machinery?

[Frank S]

Deer do not appear to be inherently afraid of anything man made, so long as it remains inanimate what they are leery of is smells sounds and sudden movement.
in the case of this young animal it was clear to see in the video that it was exhausted. Maybe even resigned to death if they are aware. If you will note it did show some sign of a brief struggle just as the bucket began to engulf it. However since it was unable to smell anything about the bucket other than earth smells as soon as the bucket had completely surrounded the creature causing darkness to engulf it,it could no-longer trust its seance of sight to determine danger, this left only smell and hearing. the engine of the machine would have been so loud this wold have masked any slight movement sound the bucket may have made. The bucket would have smelled only of the mud that held it entrapped. As the bucket scooped up the mud surrounding it this might have startled it but since it was trapped and exhausted there was little it could do anyway. The masterful skill of the operator served to reduce further stress keeping it from panicking. I particularly liked how the operator slowly deposited the animal and earth in such a way as to allow the animal to extract itself even in its weakened state. Once freed it didn't take long for it to recover.

[Frank S]

Addendum to previous post. I have several old trucks and other machinery stored in a field where deer frequently graze, particularly after I have mowed the high weeds exposing the tender grasses. The deer will graze right up to and around all of the equipment but if there is one machine that I have been working on recently and deposited my human scent or a chemical like oils grease or fuel they avoid coming near that item fer several days. There are a lot of city dwelling weekend hunters who come out and lease hunting rights from some of the local ranchers. Many wonder why the deer will not feed from their feeders. I had one ask me that very question. He said that he built the feeder and painted it with camo so it would blend into the surrounding area, and placed it near a known game trail but hadn't seen a deer all season. I almost laughed at the city dweller but contained myself and decided to offer an explanation without being too overly judgmental, well maybe just a little.
First off I explained wild animals by in large do not see colors as you and I do the exception will be some bird of prey. Animals do see in the infrared spectrum and many things give off infrared rays. Particularly fresh paint.Next they can detect odors that we do not realize even exist. They will become accustomed to objects after a period of time, and depending on that object it can take a year or more. You may have noticed the game trail you interrupted through your negligence by placing your feeder right next to it has probably changed or is no longer even used. If it has only altered perhaps if you leave your feeder alone for a year or so and don't relocated it every weekend as you said you have done this past season they may become accustom to its being there particularly if the the paint finally cures to the point it does not emit odors and infrared rays, but even if not eventually they will become desensitized. When you refill it try to keep any vehicular traffic in the area t a minimum. Do not handle the feeder with your bare hands or with new gloves or gloves that have any chemicals on them try to keep activity around the area to a minimum. and maybe just maybe next season you can get your silly trophy if that is what you are after, since this is a 1 buck county.I do not harvest deer and for the most part the only hunting done on my place is for varmints and only those which can endanger livestock or pets or could spread disease, or could injure my wife or myself.

[Gulf Shore Cycles]

Got to wonder what is going through the deers mind. Was it resigned to death? Was it terrified of the huge monster that rumbled and growled above it, before said monster gently cradled it and lifted it to salvation? Does that sort of thing imprint on a young animal and will perhaps no longer be (so) scared of mans' machinery?

This Machine operator is a Great Humanbeing, Thank you for what you did for a less fortunate animal who wouldn`t be here today if not for you !

[NickP]

Great skills and a fantastic reward at the end. Lovely to see some kind hearted people in action. Thanks for sharing.

[Beserkleyboy]

OlderDan
Lovely wee friend in your avatar....my guy could be a close cousin. Have you found a new one? Cheers
Jim (and Bentley)

[Jon]

ROV operator frees swordfish from underwater rig.