A fawn is a young deer, typically one that is less than a year old and still dependent on its mother. Fawns are usually born in the late spring or early summer, primarily between May and June, following a gestation period of about seven months. While the term applies to all deer species, this discussion focuses mainly on the white-tailed deer. First-time mothers generally give birth to a single fawn, while older does often have twins or sometimes triplets.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
Newborn fawns possess a distinctive reddish-brown coat covered in numerous white spots, a pattern known as dappling. This coloration is a form of camouflage, mimicking the dappled sunlight and shadows on the forest floor. This helps conceal the motionless young from predators.
At birth, a fawn typically weighs between 4 and 9 pounds, and its eyes are open. The dappled coat is generally lost when the fawn molts into its solid brown winter coat. This usually happens around 90 to 120 days of age, or by late summer or early fall. Fawns do not have horns or antlers during this stage.
Behavioral Adaptations and Growth
A fawn’s primary survival mechanism during its first few weeks is a hiding strategy called cryptic behavior. The doe intentionally leaves the fawn bedded down and alone in tall grass or dense cover for extended periods, only returning to nurse. This practice minimizes the risk of the mother’s scent attracting predators to the relatively scentless fawn.
When a fawn is approached, its instinct is to remain absolutely motionless, a behavior sometimes called “freezing,” which helps it avoid detection. The mother returns to nurse several times a day, with feedings lasting around 10 minutes. She often consumes the fawn’s waste to eliminate any tell-tale odors, and may also move the fawn to a new hiding place after each feeding.
Fawns begin to supplement their milk diet with tender vegetation as early as two weeks of age. They remain dependent on their mother’s milk, which is crucial for rapid growth. Complete weaning is a gradual process that generally takes place when the fawn is between 8 and 16 weeks old.
By six to eight weeks old, fawns are more mobile and begin to follow their mother closely, learning foraging and survival skills. If a fawn is found alone and appears uninjured, it should be left undisturbed, as its mother is almost certainly nearby. Fawns typically stay with their mother through the autumn and winter until she drives them away just before the birth of her next young, usually around their first birthday.