Expectant Doe* Resting Among the Salvia and Irises
About Two Weeks Before Giving Birth, Rocky Mountain Front Range, Colorado.
*This doe gave birth to her second fawn about two weeks later. (Her first fawn was a buck born in June two years ago). Mule deer gestation is 203 days: 29 weeks, or 7 months + 1 week. Here they usually give birth to 1-4 fawns in late May - early June.
In her case, she gave birth to a buck two years ago at this time. Usually there is a greater likelihood of giving birth to twins in subsequent pregnancies. Since her first birth to a buck, her right upper foreleg was injured and she now walks with a painful limp; bobbing her head up and down.
She and her son have remained in our area for several months. Repeatedly, I've seen her young son nudge her to keep her moving forward.
She has chosen the mulch in our garden for her daytime rest periods. She sprawls and stretches during this time, but somehow manages not to smash our plants (much). ;)
Normally young bucks separate from their mothers as yearlings, sooner than baby does (who do so at ~ age two years). In this case, it appears the buck has remained with his mother, perhaps to help her, as she is lame.
Watching them, I seem to see a tender dynamic. I'm wondering what might happen in the next few days....
Expectant Doe* Resting Among the Salvia and Irises
About Two Weeks Before Giving Birth, Rocky Mountain Front Range, Colorado.
*This doe gave birth to her second fawn about two weeks later. (Her first fawn was a buck born in June two years ago). Mule deer gestation is 203 days: 29 weeks, or 7 months + 1 week. Here they usually give birth to 1-4 fawns in late May - early June.
In her case, she gave birth to a buck two years ago at this time. Usually there is a greater likelihood of giving birth to twins in subsequent pregnancies. Since her first birth to a buck, her right upper foreleg was injured and she now walks with a painful limp; bobbing her head up and down.
She and her son have remained in our area for several months. Repeatedly, I've seen her young son nudge her to keep her moving forward.
She has chosen the mulch in our garden for her daytime rest periods. She sprawls and stretches during this time, but somehow manages not to smash our plants (much). ;)
Normally young bucks separate from their mothers as yearlings, sooner than baby does (who do so at ~ age two years). In this case, it appears the buck has remained with his mother, perhaps to help her, as she is lame.
Watching them, I seem to see a tender dynamic. I'm wondering what might happen in the next few days....