Whitetail deer - Wildlife Gardeners

havalotta · 01-12-2011, 03:25 PM

Early May...

A pregnant doe sheds its grey Winter coat.

She will give birth from one to three fawns anytime from late May to early June.

They are taught to lie still when danger is near...They have no scent.

The bucks delicate antlers are are now nearing their second months growth. They are covered with a living tissue called velvet.
This growth begins in a backward motion, then quickly changes its direction forward. It is one of the fastest growing tissues known and can grow as much as a ½ inch per day depending upon their nutrition and gene pool. This is the time when most antler damage or breakage occurs.

jack · 01-12-2011, 05:03 PM

And then? it helps to decimate the native seedlings on the forest floor...

havalotta · 01-12-2011, 05:16 PM

Awe Jack.....You must have heard the phrase...The buck stops here!

havalotta · 01-12-2011, 06:05 PM

June

In her new summer toned coat she scans the area.

You may come out now...It is safe

YEY!

havalotta · 01-13-2011, 01:31 PM

Playtime is over and the little fawns are hungry.

They take turns butting and suckling upon their mothers teat.
Sometimes both of them push and shove at each other for the hindmost pair of teats that produce the most milk.

Mom knows there are other things besides milk to satisfy their hunger.
She shows them how to scratch the soil with their hoof to get to the tender shoots.

I have to go potty!
Mama helps out...by stimulating the fawn with her tongue to defecate and urinate until they are about 3 weeks old almost every time they're fed.

What's that? I think I hear something....

We best go into the brush now... We shall be safe.

dapjwy · 01-13-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

June
Attachment 22018
In her new summer toned coat she scans the area.
Attachment 22020
You may come out now...It is safe
Attachment 22019
YEY!

What beautiful photos! I love the area she is standing in looking out into the open. ...but the two fawns running is just *amazing*. Thank you so much for sharing.

I saw deer tracks in the snow in my yard today--same deer trail they always seem to use.

...Maybe I'll get to see a fawn or two some day.

bridget1964 · 01-13-2011, 06:09 PM

Havalotta,
Your pictures are priceless!! You are so lucky to have been able to chronicle the lives of these beautiful creatures! Were these taken on your property?

havalotta · 01-13-2011, 06:40 PM

The first three photos were taken else where, the rest (in this first series anyway) were on our property.
You can hardly imagine how long it takes to sneak in close enough for many of these shots but hey... Pushing the limit is what it's all about.
You know me...I do so like a challenge. Crawling on my belly, slithering from behind one tree to another, freezing in the most awkward body contorting positions for what seems like eternity until the deer glance away (And I mean ALL of them at the same time) or until they feed or hear something that draws their attention. That's half the fun of it.
Hmmm... and half the pain of it too.

I've been taking pictures of deer wherever and whenever I've seen them since I've boughten my first (one and still only digital) December of 2008
That would be about a two year time frame. I've always wanted to do a progress report on their lives and finally felt I had enough photos to do so.

dapjwy · 01-13-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

... the rest (in this first series anyway) were on our property.

You have a beautiful piece of land.

havalotta · 01-13-2011, 08:11 PM

Thank you...
Having 26 acres along the Menominee river is very nice but it's quite small for exploring purposes.
Most of my hikes go into other areas beyond where most people tread.

01-12-2011, 03:25 PM	#1
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Whitetail deer Early May... A pregnant doe sheds its grey Winter coat. She will give birth from one to three fawns anytime from late May to early June. They are taught to lie still when danger is near...They have no scent. The bucks delicate antlers are are now nearing their second months growth. They are covered with a living tissue called velvet. This growth begins in a backward motion, then quickly changes its direction forward. It is one of the fastest growing tissues known and can grow as much as a ½ inch per day depending upon their nutrition and gene pool. This is the time when most antler damage or breakage occurs. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

01-12-2011, 05:03 PM	#2
jack Fox Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeastern MA	And then? it helps to decimate the native seedlings on the forest floor... __________________ "Know thyself." Oracle at Delphi

01-12-2011, 05:16 PM	#3
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Awe Jack.....You must have heard the phrase...The buck stops here! __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

01-12-2011, 06:05 PM	#4
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	June In her new summer toned coat she scans the area. You may come out now...It is safe YEY! __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

01-13-2011, 01:31 PM	#5
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Playtime is over and the little fawns are hungry. They take turns butting and suckling upon their mothers teat. Sometimes both of them push and shove at each other for the hindmost pair of teats that produce the most milk. Mom knows there are other things besides milk to satisfy their hunger. She shows them how to scratch the soil with their hoof to get to the tender shoots. I have to go potty! Mama helps out...by stimulating the fawn with her tongue to defecate and urinate until they are about 3 weeks old almost every time they're fed. What's that? I think I hear something.... We best go into the brush now... We shall be safe. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

01-13-2011, 06:09 PM	#7
bridget1964 Butterfly Educator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ventnor City, New Jersey, USA	Havalotta, Your pictures are priceless!! You are so lucky to have been able to chronicle the lives of these beautiful creatures! Were these taken on your property?

01-13-2011, 06:40 PM	#8
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	The first three photos were taken else where, the rest (in this first series anyway) were on our property. You can hardly imagine how long it takes to sneak in close enough for many of these shots but hey... Pushing the limit is what it's all about. You know me...I do so like a challenge. Crawling on my belly, slithering from behind one tree to another, freezing in the most awkward body contorting positions for what seems like eternity until the deer glance away (And I mean ALL of them at the same time) or until they feed or hear something that draws their attention. That's half the fun of it. Hmmm... and half the pain of it too. I've been taking pictures of deer wherever and whenever I've seen them since I've boughten my first (one and still only digital) December of 2008 That would be about a two year time frame. I've always wanted to do a progress report on their lives and finally felt I had enough photos to do so. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

01-13-2011, 08:11 PM	#10
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Thank you... Having 26 acres along the Menominee river is very nice but it's quite small for exploring purposes. Most of my hikes go into other areas beyond where most people tread. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

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