PULASKI, NY – Whitetail deer are a common woodland creature in the North Country, perhaps too common. For residents of northern Oswego County, rarely a day passes without seeing a deer or perhaps a small herd.
But for the young and old citizens of Pulaski, one whitetail deer in particular holds a special place in the hearts and memory of the community. For several years, actually more years than a deer typically lives, Bella the deer wandered the streets and lawns of this small Upstate village, becoming a beloved fixture and a shared pet whose visits were celebrated and became the talk of the town.
Acting as a bridge between the wild and the tame, between the natural world and the world created and inhabited by humans, Bella brought people together and became a shared concern for those who care for and about wildlife.
Following Bella’s passing, members of the Pulaski community wanted a way to memorialize the special deer and her relationship to the village, especially the children.
“The motivation to start the project that led to the placement of the statue was Bella’s relation to the children of Pulaski; she was very endearing to the children,” Pulaski Mayor Jan Tighe said. “We are very grateful for the continued support of PROP (Preservation and Revitalization of Pulaski) for their continued assistance with this project and to Community Bank for the land donation and for helping to defray the cost of placing the statue.”
A statue of Bella now occupies a special place in the village, thanks to the cooperation of several entities and a donation of space by Community Bank.
“The bank believes in the community and likes to do things for the community, and when we were asked if Bella could have a place here on the property, I spoke to my superiors and we were all in favor of it,” said Steven Gaffney, manager of the Community Bank Pulaski branch.
PROP President Margaret Weigel said the organization is very happy to see the statue come to fruition in Pulaski.
“It’s in a good location and we have had many, many positive comments about Bella so far,” Weigel said.
Although Bella’s habit of nibbling shrubs and ornamental plants was an annoyance to some, looking out of a frosty window and spotting the well fed deer slowly wandering across the yard was a welcome sight to many villagers.
“She was the beloved mascot of the village, so it’s nice to see that she finally has a home and a place to be remembered,” PROP member Tiffany Hax said.
Over the years, Bella became so tame that it was possible to approach and touch her, and doing so thrilled many of Pulaksi’s children and even a few adults.
A grant from the Greater Pulaski Community Fund helped the project of placing a memorial statue in honor of Bella.
“This has been a community effort… we thought that honoring Bella in this way would be too expensive, but the money arrived,” said Robin Philips, another PROP proponent. “Kellogg Memorial in Mexico was amazing to work with, by both creating the base for the casting and storing it while the land was secured.”
Bella’s life began in a hayfield, and as her mother was giving birth, a local farmer happened to startle the pair while mowing and the newborn fawn was abandoned. In an act of kindness, the farmer and his family brought the little creature into their home and fed and cared for her.
The family’s German Shepherd became a surrogate mother and watched over Bella as she regained her strength, forming a lasting bond. Bella eventually wandered into the forest and attempted to join the local herd, but soon returned to the farm injured, apparently having been rejected.
From this time on Bella would become part of the human world, spending her days wandering the quiet streets of the Village and sleeping under the boughs of small evergreen trees in the backyards of Pulaski residents.
Bella enjoyed the company of dogs, perhaps because of her relationship with the German Shepherd that protected her while she was young and vulnerable, and would often be seen in the company of canines as she made her usual rounds.
During her lifetime, Bella would occasionally visit the farm and family that rescued her, seeming to know that they were responsible for her well being.
Although Bella is now just a memory for the denizens of Pulaski, her likeness standing in a prominent place along one the streets she often wandered is a reminder of the gentle deer that so many loved during her lifetime.
The children that admired her will become adults, but the statue will serve to remind them of a time when the sight of a friendly woodland creature brought a smile to their young faces.
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