wounded deer in the headlights

driving home from ann arbor last night at about 9 p.m., i saw a car far ahead of me swerve out of the right hand lane, and then i could see what looked at first like a large package in the road. alas, it was a deer, a large doe, very much alive, lying on her belly with her head and neck erect, her legs splayed out in an unnatural way.

i pulled over and walked towards her, but not too close. she turned her head and looked at me with the cliche of big brown eyes, pleading for help. she didn't try to move. i suppose her legs were broken. i couldn't see any blood, but it was dark. what to do?

i wondered if i had had a gun, would i have had the courage to shoot her and put her out of her misery? running over her with my car didn't seem like a good idea.

i remembered that dan said if a deer is actually in the road, the police will come for it. so i called 911. the dispatcher said thanks and she'll call "the proper authority."

it's deer season in michigan. someone could easily score their venison right there on dixboro road. maybe the cops. maybe any of my heavily armed neighbors who've been target shooting the past few weeks.