Otto’s Pumpkin Patch vs. The Great Deer Invasion

Oct 1

Autumn is in full swing here in Pennsylvania, and at Otto’s Pumpkin Patch, we’ve been nurturing a beautiful crop of pumpkins — from the classic orange jack-o’-lantern favorites to a few mighty Atlantic Giants destined to be the pride of the patch.

But nature, as always, has its own plans.

Enter the Deer. Stage Left.

Late one crisp evening, under the pale moonlight and rustling oak leaves, a local buck decided to help himself to the buffet. And what did he go for first? Not the small ones. Oh no. He went straight for the big guys — our Atlantic Giant pumpkins. Juicy, sweet, irresistible.

He didn’t just nibble politely. He devoured them.

Otto, our loyal and ever-vigilant German Wirehaired Pointer, has taken this very personally. This isn’t just a food heist. This is war.

Normally a stoic sentinel of the patch, Otto has been on high alert ever since the incident. He’s pacing the rows. He’s barking at shadows. He’s sniffing out every hoofprint with the intensity of a detective on a crime show.

He cornered me this morning (figuratively, of course) with a determined look in his eyes and a single message:

“This means war.”

What Do We Do Now?

We’re facing some big questions:

Do we need more fencing?
Should we start a night watch?
Do we need to hire a Deer Hunter?
(Don’t worry — we’re talking about the humane kind, with strong flashlights, motion sensors, and maybe a podcast to keep them company in the cold.)

Let’s be clear: we love our local wildlife. But when the line between forest and farm gets blurred, the pumpkin patch suffers. And Otto? He’s not backing down.