Newborn deer fawn lying still and camouflaged beneath a tree hoping to avoid predators and detection.

'tis the season

South Carolina, USA

When I stopped to photograph a white-tailed deer doe, she paused, looked back, and was trying to lead me away. Out of the corner of my eye I realized why.

A newborn fawn was lying beneath a tree cluster, still as can be. It was doing what it is programmed to do. In the face of danger they will lie completely still, odorless and camouflaged, hoping to evade predators. I shot a few pictures of it from a distance with a telephoto lens and left it alone.

I checked back a 5 hours later and it was in exactly the same position. With no sign of the mother, I fought the urge to try to "help" the "abandoned" fawn, knowing that newborns will often be left for several hours at a time. This gives the mother time to feed and keeps attention away from its vulnerable offspring. Mom is usually not far away.

I checked back in the morning and it was gone. Mom returned during night and the fawn was relocated. Shortly, the fawn will be strong enough to follow the doe during its daily routines.



Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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