Seneca White Deer

It was an early morning as we headed out towards the fingerlakes. I decided to go back to the Seneca White Deer Visitor Center in the town of Romulus, New York. I wasn't able to take the tour when I came through a week ago, but I couldn't stop thinking about the idea of seeing the very rare Seneca White Deer. The Seneca Army Depot was built in 1941(now private lands), with 519 Igloo bunkers, as well as bomb shelters. It was a highly protected government site to store secrets, as well as ammunition, gunpowder, and some radioactive materials. In the early 1950's, 2 white deer were first spotted, in the fenced in areas, and as such, protected by the soldiers in the depot. Even though at this time they do not know how many white deer are located in the depot, their numbers are dozens, if not hundreds. The white deer are not albino. They have a rare genetic gene which results in a pure white coat and deep brown eyes. We were told that a sighting could be like a whale watching trip, where you may see one, or you may not. And lucky us, we got to see several of these beautiful creatures, although at a bit of a distance. We saw many brown deer as well. We also got out of the tour bus and went through a bunker and the bomb shelter.  The echoing sound inside the bunker was hypnotic! When this area was selected as an army depot, a few dozen farm homes were commanded to evacuate. Sadly, farms, crops, and homes were burned to the ground in preparation to secure the area. However, as our tour guide, Bill, pointed out, the whole area has mostly regrown, and is full of not only indigenous vegetation, but crops such as corn, fruit trees, lilac bushes, tulips, roses, and other domesticated vegetation. Currently Mennonite families have purchased over a thousand acres, and they plan on settling into this area with about 25 to 30 families. Apparently a Lancaster like community is sought. These people also are very concerned over preservation and conservation, and many other agencies are involved in preserving this area along with the welfare of the white dear. There were osprey and eagles nests as well. This was a very unique tour, and I'm so happy that I got to see the deer. 

We headed over to Jim's sister's house in Brockport, New York, for a lovely dinner with her and the family. Ending a great day, we peacefully boondocked for the night, a couple of driveways away, next to a workshop barn.

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