Lately, I’ve seen White-tailed Deer a couple of times near the turnoff for Reeves Slough and the fishing pier at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
White-tailed Deer doe nuzzling another doe in a field – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/1600, ISO 1250, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 360mm, natural light
On my last trip to the refuge, there were two does in this field that has corn and an area that’s stayed wet this spring and summer because of all the rain we’ve had.
At first, the two does were feeding about 10 feet apart. After a bit, they moved closer to each other, and the larger doe nuzzled the smaller one. I suspect the smaller doe was born last year.
What puzzled me was that I could clearly see the larger White-tailed Deer’s udders, which to me suggests she had a fawn this year, but there was no fawn in sight.
I suppose the fawn or fawns could have been hiding in the corn behind the two does.
Later in the morning at another location on the refuge I did see three White-tailed Deer fawns and they were large enough to run after the doe I saw with them.
I’m guessing I won’t be seeing little, itty-bitty fawns this year. I appear to be too late for that!
I love seeing the White-tailed Deer at the refuge, but with all the rain and how high the vegetation is growing because of it, it’s getting harder and harder to find them.
Still, I keep looking for the deer and their fawns whenever I visit the refuge. I didn’t get to see White-tailed Deer when I lived in Utah, so I’m taking advantage of the opportunities I have with them now.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my White-tailed Deer photo plus facts and information about this species.
Sweet shot. T really like the composition of this pic. Thanks Mia.
That’s a very sweet image. At the risk of anthropomorphizing, I wonder if the smaller doe is a previous-season offspring of the larger one and is checking in with her mom for feedback about parenting.