Deer danger?

The weirdest thing happened today. While talking to Lew, I gazed out the patio door and all of a sudden saw two deer racing across the field. They ran from the creek/woods side of the farm and kept going towards the highway side. So, while I'm watching those two disappear from my line of sight, another whole slew of them came running across and stopped dead in the middle of the field! Oh, and a whole flock of birds flew out with them too!


The new bunch (I counted seven) all gathered together and just stood there, looking back towards the creek/woods from where they ran. They must have stood there for about 10-15 minutes or so and then somewhat warily trotted back. It was just the oddest thing. We figured there must have been some kind of major predator or something in the woods, but I still thought it strange that they would run out and just stop, making themselves so vulnerable like that.

Anyway, It was really cool - I've never seen anything like it in all the years I've lived here. One or two maybe, but nine? I didn't know there were that many deer living back there... but now I'm wondering what kind of predators are hanging out back there too!