Newborn Fawn

Oh, what a moment!

 

Wandering through the scrub oaks this evening, photographing the last of the Coral Root orchids, I was startled by a loud screechy cry coming from the underbrush. Fearing my dog had caught a bird, I came running around the side of the scrub oaks, yelling at her to "drop it!", and luckily, she obeyed me at once.

 

But I was horrified to see that what she had flushed was a tiny fawn, who immediately flopped down on the ground, still as a statue. Dropping to my knees, I looked him over carefully and was relieved to see that he was not injured in any way, but was simply assuming an instinctive posture -- sinking as low to the ground as possible and "freezing".

 

I took a few quick pictures then moved away, my dog back on her leash. A moment later, I spotted his mother, frantically circling the scrub oaks, looking for him, so I turned and hurried away in the opposite direction as quickly as possible.

 

I am so relieved my dog didn't hurt it, and so grateful to have been able to see this beautiful little creature so close up!

Done