fawn

Fawn FAQ: Finding Forest Fast edition

We’ve all heard of f-stops, but look at this fawn f-GO!! I shared this photo eleven Julys ago but wanted to update it with even more Fun Fawn Facts:

Fawns average 6-8 lbs. at birth
Fawns are capable of walking within a few hours
Does usually remain within 100 yards of their fawns
A 3-week-old fawn can outrun most danger
The average number of spots on a fawn is 300 (gotta love scientists!)
The whitetail fawn loses its spots by the end of October of the same year it was born, or within 3 to 4 months after birth.
As the spots disappear, the fawn’s coat also changes from its reddish color to a grayish winter coat. The buck fawn’s face grows a bit darker in color but the belly remains white
Deer tend to live in female-led family groups of up to 25 deer and may live to ten years or more
When playing together, fawn games are suggestive of children’s games like tag. Mock fighting, aggressive postures, and scent marking helps fawns refine social behaviors
Young males leave their mother after one year, but young females usually stay with their mother for two years.
The area where the fawn is born normally becomes its adult habitat
Male fawns grow pedicles (the attachment point for antlers) that are typically about one inch in length
Fawns that live past the first week have a good chance of surviving to adulthood

More great shots from Jeff in his most popular photos gallery on Flickr!

All signs are pointing to Spring arriving in Michigan!

View Julie’s photo bigger and see more in her Wildlife slideshow.

In honor of this great shot of a curious Whitetail fawn, here are some fawn facts gathered from the the UM Animal Diversity Web and the Michigan DNR and two hunting sites, The Whitetail Deer and Tinks.

The whitetail fawn loses its spots by the end of October of the same year it was born, or within 3 to 4 months after birth.
As the spots disappear, the fawn’s coat also changes from its reddish color to a grayish winter coat. The buck fawn’s face grows a bit darker in color but the belly remains white.
Deer tend to live in female-led family groups of up to 25 deer and may live to ten years or more.
When playing together, fawn games are suggestive of children’s games like tag. Mock fighting, aggressive postures, and scent marking helps fawns refine social behaviors.
Young males leave their mother after one year, but young females usually stay with their mother for two years.
The area where the fawn is born normally becomes its adult habitat.
Male fawns grow pedicles (the attachment point for antlers) that are typically about one inch in length.
Fawns that live past the first week have a good chance of surviving to adulthood.

Check it out bigger and see more in Michael’s 2013 Animals slideshow.

More nature on Michigan in Pictures.