Summer in the woods for deer means plenty of eating and growing antlers, but summer is also the season of pests.

On the farm, we know how difficult flies can be to manage, especially around our goats. We spray, clean, treat, and do what we can to give them some relief. It can feel like a constant battle. But at least they have someone looking after them.

This buck doesn't. Neither do the countless other wild animals dealing with flies, ticks, mosquitoes, and all sorts of biting insects throughout the summer. They simply have to endure them, along with the heat, predators, and the constant need to stay alert.

Still, even with the little pest buzzing around his face, he stood still just long enough for me to get this shot and appreciate the quiet beauty of the moment before disappearing back into the forest.