Oakmont Wildlife: An all-star cast
It was late afternoon when we came to the tee box of the fourth hole on the East Course. The sun was hitting the ridgeline; golden streaks of sunlight turning the empty course an emerald green. I was playing with three guys who were in wine country for a corporate meeting and were enjoying a quick round before heading to the airport.As I stooped to place my ball on the tee one of them pointed to the adjacent 18th fairway of the West Course and shouted, “Look at that!” Up the middle of the fairway he came, running at full speed, a huge eight-point buck. It was a spectacular sight — an image right out of a movie.
Silently we watched this magnificent animal charge up the slope toward the green, antlers glittering with flashes of sunlight. As the buck neared the crest I saw his chest muscles pumping, the thrust of his forelocks, heard the rapid beat of hooves.
When he hit the flat of the green, the buck eased up. Perhaps he caught our scent as he pointed his nose to the wind. With a shake of his rack, the buck trotted regally across the grass, heading toward the four-foot-high fence. A quick two-step; then, with an easy leap over the railing, he pounded through the parking lot and sprinted across Oakmont Drive. In seconds the big fellow was up the hill and gone.
For a moment no one spoke, we just grinned at each other. Finally, one of the guys broke the silence, “Wow. This Oakmont is some kind of place.”
Oakmont is that kind of place. Bordering Annadel State Park, our village is home to animals of all kinds, offering residents front -row seats to a show only Mother Nature could produce.
For many, the stars of our wildlife pageantry are the deer. A large population of whitetail deer resides in Oakmont. These gentle, beautiful creatures roam the community, typically grazing beside fairways or nestling under the oaks. It is rare to see mature male deer. The bucks tend to stay in their bachelor quarters high in the hills until the time is right for getting down to business. Every spring Fawn Season arrives, the time of year when bumper crops of adorable spotted fawns bounce around the golf course and frolic through neighborhoods, always under the watchful eye of big-mommy.
Why is Oakmont home to so many deer? According to former Wildlife Fawn Rescue coordinator, Carole Balala, the answer is simple. “The deer love Oakmont for the same reason people do. They like quiet, peaceful surroundings, green, open fairways with lush foliage; and they like feeling safe.”
Co-starring with the deer are bushy gray squirrels, often seen playing tag in the trees. Long-eared jackrabbits make their entrance with mad dashes across fairways. After stopping suddenly for a quick nibble, they exit the stage to who-knows-where.If you are lucky, you might catch a cameo appearance of the shy red-tail fox, or a rare river otter happily paddling in a pond.
When darkness falls, nocturnal actors take their cue; night critters roam our community, such as raccoons, the sneaky-thief of the animal kingdom and, hiding in the dark recesses of the village, are the stage-shy skunks, who just want to be left alone. At dusk a bobcat could be spotted slinking back to her den.
Meanwhile, overhead our avian residents are putting on a spectacular air show. Squadrons of Canadian geese loudly honk as they pass by in triangular formation. Starlings sweep low, their iridescent feathers glimmering, as giant herons stalk the shallow waters. Adding to the soundtrack is the rhythmic cadence of woodpeckers and the low cooing of the quail. Oakmont is indeed a birdwatchers’ paradise.
For comic relief, rafters of wild turkeys troop through our hilly neighborhoods hunting for creepy-crawlers such as disease carrying ticks. Gobbling, pecking, fluttering their plumage, these large, gawky birds have earned their share of critics. However, most residents find the turkeys more amusing than an annoyance and are happy to put up with their antics. After all, our turkeys have their part to play in a show that truly makes Oakmont, “some kind of place.” ← Last day for opponents to challenge the City’s pickleball permit decisionMay 1 – OVA Board Votes →
My cat was being vigilant, looking out the sliding glass doors into the fenced backyard nervously each evening. Finally, I happened to see the visitors who caught her attention! Foxes, a mating pair, were up on my back step looking every bit like they were waiting for dinner! We are on Old Oak with a completely enclosed yard!
My office computer sits in front of a large window looking out on Oakmont Drive and the West golf course. I was working late one evening when suddenly the head and shoulders of a buck with a full rack raised up slowly outside the window just 4 feet from where I was sitting. I froze, watching him as he stood there ruminating for over 30 seconds before slowly walking away. It was breathtaking.
Wow – Karen – what a moment – a sight like that one seldom forgets. Thanks for sharing