By David Selman
Whitetail fawns are usually born in late April through early June. The
Whitetail fawn generally weighs between 4 and 8 pounds at birth. Like
most newborns the first 48 hours of life are crucial to survival. If
the doe is not well nourished and healthy the fawn's chances of
survival are greatly reduced. Fawns that survive the first week of life
stand a good chance of joining the deer population.In the first few
weeks of a fawn's life a doe will determine the general area that the
fawn will stay. The fawns have a reddish-tan to reddish-brown coat at
birth and are covered with white spots. These spots provide camouflage
that helps the fawn blend in with it's surroundings. The spots will
usually fade away in the fall when they grow their first winter coat.
Like some adult deer, a fawn will remain motionless when danger is
near. Fawns and adult deer often go unnoticed by predators and hunters
by remaining still. Fawns are completely odorless for the first few
days of life. The doe stays away from the fawn only returning for
nursing. This prevents the deer's scent from being detected by
predators and giving away the location of a fawn. If you encounter a
fawn in the wild, please do not handle it. The doe is surely nearby.
Often a doe will abandon a fawn if human odor is present on the fawn.
Article by Tracker Outdoors
www.tracker-outdoors.com
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