We have deer. Several deer graze across our back lawn nightly. They saunter from a nearby wood, then promenade though the Northland neighborhood. By nature, the critters are cautious, skittery, alert for man and beast, and hungry, They eat young plants, have out hostas for dessert, and then slink back to a nest.

This December, an unusual event happened involving our deer. A severe ice storm blanketed the Nothland. A heavy sheet of ice covered shrubs, bushes, houses, and trees.

The freezing rain continued through daylight into the night. The ice’s weight caused branches to break, then fall to the ground. This type of ice storm occurs during winters here in the Kansas City area. Freezing rain is common. What was uncommon involved our deer.

The ice formed on Thursday and Thursday night. Looking from the breakfast table on Friday morning, I saw a single deer, standing like a statue. It had three feet planted in the ice and one lifted. It appeared to be walking, but did not move.

Sitting down my coffee, I went to the back window for a closer look. There was one deer. It was standing in full daylight. It was not moving. This was surprising, because these sneaky critters evaporate at first light. But there it stood. My curiosity won out, causing me to act. . Getting bundled for the December cold, I walked into the back yard. The deer did not flinch. So, I moved closer, only to find it was dead and frozen in a silhouette pose.

What had killed it? There was no blood, meaning some hunter’s bullet or arrow did not shoot it. There was a lonely icicle sticking from its shoulder like a hackle. Mystically, one of those many large chunks of ice fell directly behind its forelock, puncturing downward, through meat and marrow into its heart. Struck dead by nature’s cold fearful force; struck solid by winter’s cold breath. Spiked an amazing tale along with cold winter’s night.