Do deer have rational thoughts?
Answer What a fascinating question. Because of the wolves I study, I’ve often wondered what is going through a deer’s mind as it stands idly by when the pack lounges around nearby. My outfitter friend assures me it is because the wolves are not in hunting mode and therefore the deer does not feel threatened at that time. This fits well with what science knows about mammals and how they learn. Context is very important and allows us mammals to pick and choose our behavior accordingly rather than constantly learn through trial and error. During my daily runs I’ve been able to change the context by stopping behind a tree then leaning out to look at the deer. I can usually run by and the deer are often only yards away. If I stop and hide, however, predators do this and the deer quickly become nervous then run away. Therefore, deer seem to have rational thought, like all other mammals science has tested so far. It is the hallmark of being a mammal. However, I don’t know of any studies that
