November 24, 1988 - 'The Power of Nature on the Rampage'November,24, 1988/The Suffolk- TirnespagwrlyIA
`The Power of Nature on the Rampage'
By Paul Stoutenburah
Why is it whenever there is a storm
brewing I get uneasy and have to get out
and see what's going on? Perhaps it's
something in my genes, going back to
my ancestors when storms meant a time
to take advantage of chaotic periods.
Many situations could have lured the
Focus on
Nature
oldtimers. Ducks would be seeking
shelter and the wise hunter could place
himself in a position to take advantage
of their plight. Under the cover of a
storm one could sneak up on
unsuspecting game, be it ducks or deer.
In those early days game was an integral
part of life and almost everyone owned a
"fowling piece."
Then there were the opportunists who
took advantage of the howling gales that
WHITE- TAILED DEER —Too many deer cause crop damage and often serious car accidents.
drove ships ashore. The first one there
often got the lion's share of the salvage .
deer areas for hunters, a sure sign winter
from the simple to the extravagant,
We backed away and headed to Shin -
Even today that "first to claim her"
is on its way.
from condos to beach clubs.
necock Inlet, a short distance to the east.
holds true.
Deer are becoming more of a problem
Puddles and road flooding were every-
Here we saw the first signs of life. Four
Probably this winter we'll have those
as they continue to multiply because of
the lack of natural predators. In the early
where. We were glad we had taken the
pickup. Actually, we were sheltered by
or five cars and pickups were lined up
looking out over the sea. Again we saw
who venture out in the wildest of
snowstorms to seek cleanup work.
days before man destroyed all the bears,
the wall of buildings but with such a
that vast, white fury of rolling breakers,
Should they wait until the storm's over,
panthers, wolves and other predators, the
wind from the southeast, we knew the
the pounding rain on the windshield.
someone else might get the job. Of
deer population was kept in balance.
surf must be raging in all its fury. Fi-
The wind actually rocked our little
course, there are those whose job it is to
Today there are just too many deer for
nally the houses and condos seemed to
truck.
be out to help others in stormy weather,
our modern world. Man has to step in
peter out and a true Dune Road took
Further out another drama was taking
our dedicated policemen and utility men.
and take the place of the natural preda-
over. Thank goodness, Southampton
place; there were birds wheeling and
My latest urge to get out in a storm
tor. In the past two weeks three deer
Town had the foresight to hold on to
turning and diving. We could barely
had none of the reasons above. Rather it
have been killed on the highway within
that wondrous stretch of open land west
make them out in the rain. What could
was to get a sense and feel of the power
four miles of where I live. There are
of Shinnecock Inlet.
be out in such a storm? Occasionally I
of nature on the rampage. Nov. 13 was
deer - crossing signs where, years ago, I
We pulled into one of the side roads.
could see large, narrow wings with
the storm Barbara and I headed out into;
Would have thought them out of place.
There wasn't a car about and so we
black tips. It must be. gannets but we
it proved to be a short and wild one. We
Most of us love all wildlife but in the
drove right up to the brink of the ocean.
usually see them far offshore. Binocu-
took my pickup because it was higher
case of the deer we must understand
What a sight! The rain drove at us in all
lars told the story.
off the ground than the modern car and
there is justification in reducing their
its anger; mixed in with it were grains
Through the spray and rain we saw
would be more reliable if the rain was
numbers.
of sand that had been picked up and
Plummeting birds rocketing into the
heavy enough to flood the roads.
As we reached Westhampton the spit-
flung into the air.
water with continual turmoil all about.
ting rain had turned into a downpour and
White, churning surf with great
Evidently the outgoing tide was spew -
The Best View
the wind had increased to a gale. It even
troughs between the huge swells covered
ing out a bountiful supply of food. The
There's no better place to see and feel
found a flaw in my windshield seal and a
the vista as far as you could see. There
gannets, along with the black- backed
the fury of a storm than along our ocean
little riverlet of water ran over the dash.
was also that distinct additional surf
and herring gulls, were enjoying the
beach; so we headed for Dune Road in
I put the wipers on high speed and still
created by the offshore bar that parallels
feast despite the weather. We stared at
Westhampton. As we passed through
my view was partly blurred.
an ocean beach. It is this outer bar the
the sea, mesmerized by the power and
Riverhead it began spitting rain. We
Over the bridge to Dune Road my
doomed ships of yesteryear came upon
fury before us.
saw geese under the low, grey clouds,
mind flashed back to years ago when we
in their last efforts to free themselves
It poured rain and blew furiously all
looking for a farmer's rye field to settle
brought a boat up this narrow and quiet
from the angry sea. How difficult it
the way home. After dinner I had an oc-
in and start their vegetarian diet.
waterway. It was raining but there was
must have been to try to get ashore in
casion to go outside. To my surprise
As we passed along the road leading
no wind to pelt us as it did today. We
that whirling, churning sea. What a
there were now stars shining above. The
to Westhampton, formerly the RCA
headed east along Dune Road, a name
hopeless situation, aground on the bar
storm had blown itself out. That night I
property, we noticed the large stake -out
given when dunes and freedom to park
being battered by enormous waves and
slept well, dreaming of gannets diving
numbers of the New York State De-
and swim were commonplace. Today
fierce rain and wind while praying for
in swirling spray amidst the storm at
partment of Conservation. These were
this Dune Road is lined with homes
—I
help.
Shinnecock.
77 CIS
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