First Fawn Born on the Farm!

I saw what I thought was a brown paper grocery bag in my peripheral vision on the farm yesterday morning just past our small field of hops. Wondering where that blew in from, I trotted over to 'clean up'. However, it disappeared right before my eyes, which seemed strange! Well, now I was really curious and that brown bag was clearly something to check out. Before I knew it, I had nearly stepped on this fawn, which must have been only a day old or less!

The mother was no where to be seen. I think the fawn had been trying to stand up when I saw it (thinking it was a brown bag - d'oh!). Now it was trying to be as flat as a pancake with its nose and eyes facing away from me in the tall grass. 'If I can't see you, you can't see me - right?'

(Photo: First fawn born on The Dyer Family Farm, 5.12.2011 in the morning - just collapsed on its belly with haunches sticking up after trying to stand up - all skin and bones!)

I never dreamed this spot was 'the thicket' where I assumed all deer were born, as this little grassy spot is in plain view! However, when I went back later yesterday evening, the fawn was still there, at first all curled up asleep, and then when I came back with my camera, it was still in the same spot, but this time with a big black eye peeking at me! 'Now I can see you, but you still can't see me - right?'

(Photo: First fawn, evening 5.12.2011 - Sleeping)

(Photo: First fawn, evening 5.12.2011 - Peeking - look for its big black eye!)

We certainly won't cut the grass in this area, but of course, I wonder how many other fawns are lying in plain view, sort of, instead of hidden away in those thickets of my youth, compliments of the movie Bambi!

I was not nearly as close to this fawn as these photos seem. Except for that one time I almost stepped on it, I was at least 10 feet away, trying desperately to zoom the lens on my little camera, see the fawn in the viewfinder, and keep the camera steady, not an easy feat. The mother was never in sight, but I cannot imagine that she was far away and was likely clearly watching us!

I keep my eyes open as every day there is something new on the farm! Now a newborn fawn is a sure sign of spring and getting those fences built for our family garden will be the next job on the list (after we get fully moved with our 'city house' listed for sale!).

"Cultivate your life - you are what you grow - inch by inch, row by row"

Diana Dyer, MS, RD