Two is company

On May 27, 2017, at about 6:30 p.m. while sitting on our deck enjoying a glass of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Colleen and I noticed some movement at the far side of the neighbor’s yard. What could it be?

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chaise lounge, to see what was the matter.

When what to my wondering eyes would appear,

but a beautiful doe, and a tiny little deer.  

This fawn is about 20 minutes old.

Unassisted by an OB, Midwife, Duala, or a Veterinarian, a doe had just given birth. The other deer in the following photo, perhaps a child from last year, seems to be providing moral support, which continued for several days. Also observing this birth, and equally excited, was our young neighbor Emma, who was patiently waiting for her mom to give birth to a new baby boy, a month later.

Removing the amniotic fluid a few minutes after birth.

In the next hour or so, Mom delivered two more babies, and she wandered around a week later with triplets in tow. We later named her Fertile Myrtle. Deer, like cats, may have multiple babies at a time, each having a different father. The term for this phenomenon is superfecundation.

In addition to feeding these babies, mom’s primary focus is protection. The doe will place the fawns in different “hideouts.” For the first month of their lives, she returns to the hiding place to nurse them, and then wanders around to nourish herself providing the energy to feed her kids.

Myrtle protecting her two-week-old fawn, who has been hiding in the brush.

 Myrtle has an 8-inch marking, maybe a scar, on the lower right side of her neck. This allows us to identify her, even though her color and size is like many other does in this area. Her colors, molting and skin texture change, but this black mark has been constant.

Myrtle watches over while her three babies, now about two months old, chow down. Note the change in size from smallest on the left to largest on the right.

One value of the 200 plus spots on the fawn is predator protection. A forest floor is often a mix of tan and brown branches, twigs, foliage and leaves. The sun splashes through branches leaving light spots. Occasionally while hiking, I have almost stumbled on a little fawn tucked beneath trees or bushes, because the fawns coloring resembles the same pattern as the forest floor.

The habitat this mom has selected is ideal. Lots of trees and brush, a seasonal stream, much to eat and several very good neighbors.

 

At the age of four to six weeks the fawns sneak out to explore. But never far from their safe place – a few steps back into the trees and they disappear.

Deer are very territorial. It is quite likely Myrtle herself was born on, or near, this property. Her triplets have foraged, rested, played and been nurtured daily on the same few-acre area for their entire lifespan, albeit only four months. This has become their home and quite likely these three will remain here during the winter and be here next spring. Myrtle has been identified by the bucks as a “good catch” able to produce multiple fawns. She will likely mate with a buck who has claimed this territory, and continue to raise her future children here.

Lots of food and protection allows for a playground atmosphere.

The fawns spend much of their first six weeks simply resting as well as eating. Naps are frequent, and often lengthy.

Mom providing a protective eye.

The fawns will nurse four to six times a day, taking four to six ounces of milk per feeding for about four months. So for triplets, multiply by three. That might be 24 feedings a day, every hour on the hour! The doe’s milk is rich in butterfat, about 19 percent. Compare this to whale’s milk at 50 percent, human milk at 4.8 percent and cow’s milk at 3.4 percent. The butterfat richness in part explains why a fawn born at five or six pounds, will increase its weight by a multiple of 10 to 50 or 60 pounds within five or six months.

She is always ready with a warm meal.

By the age of four months, they are spending more time alone and less with mom.

Feeding on foliage and fruit, including rhubarb.

They develop their own quirks.

 

 

Play with the big kids.

And play with the little kids.

 

They stand guard for each other. I have often watched one napping or wool gathering while the other maintains a diligent eye, the Watch-Deer.

 

With appreciation to the numerous organizations and individuals who devote time an energy to the protection of wildlife and habitat, including The National Wildlife Federation, Audubon Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, PAWS Wildlife Center, WWF, International Fund For Animal Welfare, WIN – Wings in Nature, Defenders of Wildlife, numerous school districts who employ outdoor & environmental educators and those who volunteers in these programs, as well as the naturalists, and park rangers working for Federal and State governments. Credit to Wikipedia: www.allaboutbirds.org: National Geographic.

Thanks to my grandkids, Montse, Beorn & Rebel, a constant inspiration to respect the natural world and its importance for future generations.

Text by Frank Toller

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