Yeah, some deer populations have started adapting to human presence by taking advantage of predators not wanting to approach and have been leaving their kids right next to houses.
Basically the 90s kid equivalent of being left in the K B Toys while mom went and did her mall shopping.
Some years ago I saw a post about a deer using the crosswalk regularly because they saw humans doing it. A lot of people chalked it up to coincidence, but I'm not so sure.
Less than a week ago, in broad daylight, I watched a mom and her fawn use the crosswalk at a roundabout. They learn.
There's a hilarious radio clip from a decade ago of a woman calling up furious that deer weren't using the animal crossing at the signs along the highways, but were crossing at any point. 🤣🤣🤣
I live in a mountain town and we have TONS of mule town deer. They absolutely use the crosswalks alot of the time. They will also absolutely fuck you up if you approach them with their babies around. Had to chase one off with a rake while it was stomping my dog a few years ago.
I saw a cat do that once & was amazed. The car in front of me had stopped & I was confused as I should've been able to see the person's head but then this cat strolls across!
Like I'm not that surprised, I remember one of cats blatantly looking both ways before crossing the road, but specifically using the pedestrian crossing was amazing!
My wife is from Ukraine, and most of the stray dogs do that. Not only do they use the crosswalks, but many of them will wait at or near the crosswalk for people to show up, and cross with them.
Where i grew up in Chicago the deer would use the crosswalk from the forest preserve on one side of my neighborhood wait for the light and go to cemetery across the street. They would get up on our deck and everything. It wasn't what you'd expect when you think chicago but a big chuck of the northwest side has forest preserve golf courses and parks and quiet neighborhoods with larger properties so animals just adapt. I ferment there being 2 mountain lion reports. I think chicago has the most public land including forest preserves and parks of any city.
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u/[deleted] May 20 '26
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