Last day of March

Got in one more weekday walk this Wednesday with a friend of mine. The temps were near 75º I think which is WAY above our normal mid-forties for time. Shortly after turning onto the second woodchip trail we noticed a group of four deer only feet off the right side of the trail. I couldn't believe how close we were. Even as we talked, only two of them really paid attention to us and wandered further into the woods. The most curious one stayed put for a photo or two and I get the feeling it was the younger one. Later on we spotted two more for a total of six deer. Though it had been partly sunny earlier it had clouded over good by the time the sun was setting. At the water overlook on the south side we both heard and say something slowly crawling out of the cattails and slip quietly into the water. I thought it was a muskrat but it turned out to be a large Snapping Turtle who later poked his nose out of the water. It was cool to see one so early in the season. I've only ever seen them in the summer here.