Can you believe it is the last day of July? Summer is fleeting. The above photo was taken last week in northwest Guilford County. Once you get out in the suburbs of Greensboro, white-tailed deer seem to be everywhere and fawns are still being born. The gestation period is 201 days and fawns can't be born too late in the season as they need to be mature enough to survive the winter. It is interesting to see how the doe leaves them hidden and then comes back to get them, which was the case in the above photo. If she has more than one, she leaves them in different places as a precaution.
The lifespan of a white-tailed deer can be from 6-14 years, but the average age is 4.5 years due to hunting, disease, and automobile collisions. Are there deer you recognize in your yard? Do you think it is the same ones? They are creatures of habit and tend to stay in their given territory. As we all stay closer to home, noticing wildlife is a great pastime. Have a great weekend and let us know if you spot any does with their fawn!
What a beautiful pair.
Posted by: William Kendall | Friday, July 31, 2020 at 12:54 PM