Female white-tailed deer, or does, give birth to fawns in late spring and early summer. Each doe may have one fawn, twins or, rarely, triplets. At birth, a fawn's body measures only 1-1/2 feet long and weighs 4-7 pounds. The fawn's eyes are open, but weak legs don't allow for much standing or walking.
Until the fawn is 2-3 weeks old and strong enough to follow its mother, it stays hidden close to where it was born. Camouflaging spots on the fawn's coat mimic dabs of sunlight on the forest floor. Although a young deer may appear abandoned, its mother feeds nearby and frequently returns to nurse.
WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.
Until the fawn is 2-3 weeks old and strong enough to follow its mother, it stays hidden close to where it was born. Camouflaging spots on the fawn's coat mimic dabs of sunlight on the forest floor. Although a young deer may appear abandoned, its mother feeds nearby and frequently returns to nurse.
WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, a wildlife interpretive specialist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.