Newborn Whitetail Deer Fawn

This is a recently born whitetail deer fawn that I spotted in the deep woods. The fawns instinctively lie motionless to avoid detection. After a couple days or so they are strong enough to run away from danger.

The fawn was in deep shade when I first noticed it but there were shafts of sunlight penetrating the canopy in spots. I waited at a respectable distance until a sunbeam tracked onto the fawn and got this image.

The mother was not in the immediate vicinity but it is common for the does to forage farther away and return later to nurse the fawns. I also figured that a twin might be nearby so I looked very carefully but never saw another one.