By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
There’s no denying the adult whitetail deer population at Lake Panorama causes heartburn for many homeowners who can’t keep them from munching on beautiful flowers and foliage. Yet, the spotted fawns born each summer always are fun to watch.
Trish Hart recently captured several photos of fawns on an evening Ranger ride with her husband, Scott. The Harts live on the east side of the lake near the Narrows.
Fawns are born about six months after mating, in late May to early June. Yearling does usually give birth to one fawn. Older does often have twins and sometimes triplets. Fawns average about 6 to 8 pounds at birth, and will weigh 60 to 70 pounds by their first winter.
Fawns are born with a reddish-brown coat covered with white spots, which helps them blend in with the sun-flecked ground. Fawns lose their spots at 90-120 days of age.
Does nurse their fawns about four times a day as newborns. At about two weeks of age, a fawn will start browsing vegetation and learn from its mother what plants to eat.
Hart specializes in nature photography. She offers custom prints of her photos on canvas, paper, metal and glass. Learn more by visiting Nature’s Canvas Photography on Facebook.