Nature’s Weight Loss Plan
Statisticians tell us Americans spend around $33 billion each year on weight-loss products. I am not very good at math, but it looks like our nation could take that money, divide it up, and give each of us around $100. Not sure what conclusions you can draw from that other than, like the results from most diet plans, some people would be happy, some not.
Mother does have their own weight loss plan, one involving giving birth. From birth to 5 months, depending on different factors, a doe can lose anywhere from 15-30% of its body weight from the demands of birth and nurturing her young.
Much of the weight loss comes during the lactation period when fawns depend on their mother’s milk for the first 4-5 weeks, drinking every four hours initially. By the end of the first week, the twins in the photo are daily consuming nearly two liters of milk together.
Things slow down for the mother as fawns begin nibbling vegetation by three weeks, and most are weaned by four months.
Does need to regain the lost body weight to survive the coming winter as well as to be in good shape for the next breeding season.
Interesting group trekking up the small creek as the male’s apparent ease and familiarity with the doe and twins suggests it’s likely an older offspring from the same doe—probably her yearling from the previous season. I wonder if he feels like a third wheel at times.
(Photographed near Cambridge, MN)
Nature’s Weight Loss Plan
Statisticians tell us Americans spend around $33 billion each year on weight-loss products. I am not very good at math, but it looks like our nation could take that money, divide it up, and give each of us around $100. Not sure what conclusions you can draw from that other than, like the results from most diet plans, some people would be happy, some not.
Mother does have their own weight loss plan, one involving giving birth. From birth to 5 months, depending on different factors, a doe can lose anywhere from 15-30% of its body weight from the demands of birth and nurturing her young.
Much of the weight loss comes during the lactation period when fawns depend on their mother’s milk for the first 4-5 weeks, drinking every four hours initially. By the end of the first week, the twins in the photo are daily consuming nearly two liters of milk together.
Things slow down for the mother as fawns begin nibbling vegetation by three weeks, and most are weaned by four months.
Does need to regain the lost body weight to survive the coming winter as well as to be in good shape for the next breeding season.
Interesting group trekking up the small creek as the male’s apparent ease and familiarity with the doe and twins suggests it’s likely an older offspring from the same doe—probably her yearling from the previous season. I wonder if he feels like a third wheel at times.
(Photographed near Cambridge, MN)