Fawning over this garden visitor
For two mornings in a row this tiny fawn lay curled in the shaggy sedge lawn, its back against a tree, waiting for its mother to return from grazing somewhere down the street. I walked right by it the first day, oblivious, and stopped to pull weeds and check on a new vine just feet away from its hiding place. As I turned back around, it lost its nerve and bolted, startling me.
I worried about it, wondering if its mother would find it. Apparently she did. The next morning I spotted our Bambi, very still, looking right back at me from the same hiding place. The fawn remained there until early afternoon, when its mother apparently returned to collect it. I see the does up and down our neighborhood streets at all hours these days. I guess nursing makes them hungrier than ever. Fawns must be stashed here and there and everywhere.
This morning, a surprise: Bambi was tucked into the woolly stemodia atop the retaining wall beside the driveway. So cute!
Not that I’m fawning, but these plant snackers are a lot cuter when they’re little.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
So glad to have been a witness to the moment! I just posted my pic on instagram 🙂
What’s your Instagram link, Cat? —Pam
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Thanks, Cat. Cute photo! —Pam
So cute!
I know they’re destructive but that face still makes my heart melt.
Yep. It’s a lot easier to coo over them when they’re little. —Pam
Adorable!
I think its the white spots that solidify their cuteness…that and their big ears. Super shots of this adorable fellow!
It is an adorable creature. I know how our feel though. I love to see those tiny baby bunnnies hopping around the garden but I get all riled up when they get big enough to taste test anything larger than the clover in the lawn. I am glad we don’t have deer in the garden.
You’re right to be glad, Lisa. They are destructive, not only eating some plants but destroying others by rubbing their antlers against them in the fall. —Pam
BABIES! SO cute. It is uncanny how still they can be and how well they blend in. I too have gardened right up nearly on top of one (who similarly lost its nerve and ran off to my deep dismay). Apparently their Mommas find them again (and again). Now I’m wondering if those deer Mommas are counseling the babies that it is OK to stay put – the ladies in these houses only fuss about snacking, not napping!
Perhaps they also counsel the babies to try to tolerate the paparazzi. This one had two of us taking pictures yesterday. —Pam
Oh so adorable! All I get are raccoons and possums Your photos are lovely, as always!
If it were only fawns who ever visited, I’d be content. But grown deer are a lot less cute and very destructive. I’m just glad I don’t have moose or bears, like gardeners in the far north! —Pam
So cute!!!!
They are really cute, aren’t they? Then, they grow up and eat our landscapes.
I’m hoping this year, with all the rain, there will be lots of other things for them to eat.
It’s pretty to think so, isn’t it? —Pam
Since our move to San Diego we miss seeing all the does and their moms this time of year. Sea gulls are not that interesting to watch.
Ha! But I’m afraid I can’t feel sorry for you, living in San Diego with no deer eating and antlering your plants. 🙂 —Pam
Definately a mixed blessing living with deer. Your photos are wonderful.
How adorable…but so weird this deer in the city thing…i have still not gotten used to that. Back home deer hide from humans! They are like pets here! Bizarre!
I know, Heather. It is strange, isn’t it? It’s illegal to feed them in the city of Austin, but they have almost zero fear of people anyway. I can tell you that in the fall of 2013 the coyotes were getting pretty bold too. —Pam
What an adorable little guy! You’re such a good Bambi babysitter!
I expect to see a fawn with ten acres in the country but I rarely catch a glimpse. They are pretty creatures. Lucky you!
Deer are supremely well adapted to suburban neighborhood life. Cushy lawns to bed down in, shrubbery to eat, fewer predators — what’s not to like? —Pam
Adorable fawns, screech-owls… your garden is a wildlife magnet, and I’m so happy you share the images with us!
And I’m glad you enjoy them, Luisa. The wild creatures are a joy to observe. —Pam
FYI, here is a link explaining why does ‘leave’ their fawns at birth:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/rehabilitation/deer_fawns.html