Spring is in the air! Popup showers, along with the occasional thunderstorm and all-day rains, have washed away the last remnants of the winter white landscape and have turned the brown fields into lush green. For weeks now, the tree swallows and bluebirds have been busily flying in and out of their bird boxes as they lay and hatch eggs and begin tending to their newborns. Cardinals, orioles, goldfinches, and a few indigo buntings have been adding color to the many songbirds that grace the skies. On several mornings I have enjoyed watching a gray fox with a beautiful pelt course through the field – several times prancing away with a mouse or two in its mouth!
And now, more signs of a wonderful spring are about to appear as we begin sighting the newborn fawns. They always inspire such a great feeling of joy as we watch them interact with their mother in their first weeks of life.
Their initial unsteadiness vanishes in just a few days as they gain strength and agility. It is not long until we can watch in amazement as they run back and forth helter-skelter with what seems like boundless energy!
But, it’s that time of year when we need a gentle reminder. The cautionary reminder is that Mother Nature has things well in hand and doesn’t need interference by any well-intended humans. I refer to the fact that the young of all kinds will come into this world in the next several weeks – from baby birds to those oh-so-cute fawns with their big brown eyes and beautiful white spots!
All of these magnificent young birds and mammals are wonderful to observe but need to be watched from a distance. If you get too close, the newly born or weeks old young can panic – causing young birds to drop from a nest or young mammals to flee from their hiding spot and put themselves in danger of predation. Take photographs if you want, but do so from a distance to avoid putting the subjects in danger.
Probably the most encountered, or at least most talked about young of any species, is the fawns of the whitetail deer. Their birth is underway and will continue for several weeks. Spring gobbler hunters or those folks just out for a hike will have good odds of spotting one of these young deer – usually curled up and lying still to avoid predation. During the initial phase of a newly born fawn’s life, it has no scent. This helps prevent predation during this early phase while it develops the strength in its legs to (hopefully) outrun any predators that cross its path. By the time it develops its scent, it should have the strength and stamina to outrun anything that is looking at it for its next meal.
Among all of its predators, the black bear takes more fawns every spring than do any of the others. This is a fact that many have difficulty accepting, but studies here in Pennsylvania and in other states support that fact. For those of you who spend time in the outdoors, you may have wondered why you have more black bear sightings this time of year. It is because they are out cruising fields and woodlots in search of fawns, and they will do so in daylight hours as well as nighttime.
What should you do if you happen to come across a fawn or some other relatively newly born bird or animal in the wild? First, realize that it is NOT abandoned. There is little doubt that the mother is nearby – hiding and watching you from a safe distance. Once you leave, she will return to feed and care for her young.
So, enjoy watching for a few moments, take pictures if you want, but don’t stay too long and don’t get too close.
The last thing you want to do is frighten the young bird or animal from its hiding place only to be spotted by a nearby predator!
If you are lucky enough to encounter a young bird or animal, appreciate the fact that you can make such an observation, enjoy this brief time of seeing something most folks never have a chance to witness, and make sure that you “Look, But Don’t Touch!”
