Blue Deer Pee?

[Pete Collin]

Hello All,

This winter I have seen something in the woods that I have never noticed before.  In a couple of locations, there was deer urine-soaked snow that was tinted blue.  I mean real, windex-shaded blue.  Made me wonder if deer get porphyria like King George III.  What might cause this?  Do they sell salt licks with dye so you can track them somehow?

Pete Collin

[rolmops]

Maybe the culprit is an old man with blood pressure medication?

But seriously, when salt is spread on the winter roads, the deer will use that instead of their regular salt licks and dependent on the chemical make up of the salt in your area, blue deer pee can happen

Edited March 25, 2018 by rolmops

[NymphO]

Thought this was gonna be the new name for this year's hot spoon.... Blue deer pee UV

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[Sean Youngblood]

I would say it is from foraging on pine with the heavy snow cover. 

[JakeyBaby]

I've also seen it this year, wierd!

[landingzone]

Saw this Friday (3/23) while putting out trail cams.  An internet search suggests that sometimes it is caused by deer eating buckthorn berries in late winter.  There are many buckthorn on this property.  I tried eating one once.  The taste was so bad I couldn't spit it out  fast enough.

[Gill-T]

Weird snow cone.  

[GAMBLER]

10 hours ago, Gill-T said:

Weird snow cone.  

Blue raspberry!

[Kingfisher06]

It’s from eating buckthorn berries. Happens to cottontails more so often. 

[ken frearson]

Yep buckthorn for sure, I have seen it happen many of times before on my farm ,but more likely in December/January time frame. Maybe the heavy snow lately pulled some left over Berry's down so the deer can reach better.

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[DJ 17]

liquid Venison Viagra?