Watch: Deer noticed swimming throughout Canandaigua Lake stuns onlookers

If one factor is true within the pure order of issues within the Finger Lakes, it’s this: Canandaigua Lake by no means ceases to amaze. 

A video taken by Bill Gee exhibits what seems to be a deer swimming east to west towards Skenoh Island in Canandaigua Lake, its head simply above calm blue water on a sunny spring day. And by the seems of it, the deer appears to haven’t fairly doggy paddled however deer paddled a protracted sufficient distance which may make Olympic swimming nice Michael Phelps name it quits and hitch a ship experience.

Gee’s video, together with a photograph that seems to indicate a deer on the island taken by a “kind lady” who shared it with Gee, was posted April 22 to the Canandaigua Chronicles Facebook page. And the likes, shares and feedback ensued.

Gee and a number of other others who occurred to be gathered that day on Canandaigua’s City Pier witnessed one thing that is probably not all that uncommon in nature, besides to some it is a thrilling eye-opener. Who knew that deer can swim? Well, those that noticed it now do.

“I wish I had an exciting story to tell, but the deer was the star and the story maker,” Gee stated in an e-mail. 

Yes, deer can swim

According to state Department of Environmental Conservation spokeswoman Lori Severino, white-tailed deer are wonderful swimmers. In reality, the deer can attain speeds of as much as 15 mph within the water, utilizing their highly effective hind legs to assist propel them.  

“They will often cross lakes and rivers in search of food, or to get away from predators and can even occasionally be seen swimming in the ocean,” Severino stated. 

The pure marvel that’s Canandaigua Lake

Canandaigua Lake has been good to Gee and his digicam. 

This previous March, Gee stated he was lucky sufficient to see a big flock of snow geese, which he additionally recorded and posted to the Chronicles web page. The geese, Gee stated, “seem to be flying to the music of my radio.” 

But Gee stated he’s blown away with the variety of responses coming his means concerning the swimming deer. Perhaps these who reached out to him have been additionally blown away. 

Like an previous good friend, the lake is a supply for enjoyable, whether or not swimming, boating or having fun with a lake-favorite Blue Whale cocktail on its shores. It’s massive enterprise for the Finger Lakes area, too, the engine driving the native financial system. 

Sometimes forgotten when the clock strikes lake time, people do not personal the lake; they share it.

Folks take within the surroundings, spring, summer season, fall and winter, and marvel at what they see on the lake whereas questioning what swims beneath the floor. Sometimes, this previous good friend suffers a severe well being woe, corresponding to common outbreaks of blue-green algae, that serves as a reminder that the lake, like an previous good friend, requires TLC from the younger and people who information and inform them.

Sometimes, the reward is a magic second — or two, in Gee’s case. 

“Both seeing the snow geese and the deer was a treat offered to me by being on the pier at the right time and Mother Nature,” Gee stated. 

Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and different communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drinks column. He could be reached at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.