Over the upcoming weekend, the first official day of summer will be upon us, and with it finally comes the realization that the long, bitterly cold winter is truly just a memory that most of us would like to forget! As the last week of spring comes to a close, pop-up showers, along with the occasional thunderstorm and all-day rains, have repainted the landscape of brown fields and bare-leaved trees into shades of 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.
Over the last few weeks, there have been more and more sightings of newborn fawns. It is that special time of the year when we have the opportunity to observe the young of all of the birds and mammals that live in our woods and fields. They always seem to inspire such joy as we watch them interact with their mother in their first weeks of life. This is particularly true of fawns, as 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 note 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 in the next several weeks, the young of all kinds will come into this world — 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, putting 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 fawn of the whitetail deer. Their birth has been underway and will continue for several more weeks. If you are fortunate enough to work in the outdoors or are one of those folks who enjoys hiking or exploring in the outdoors, you 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 newborn 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 may 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 at night.
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 that you can make such an observation, enjoy this brief time to see something most folks never have a chance to witness, and make sure you “Look, but Don’t Touch!”
