Monica and I had two doe’s that were soon to be mothers, and they visit our woods/yard, and both have produced fawns. The number of fawns I don’t know yet, but I’m sure they will be following mama out of the woods in a month or two.

First time moms will have only one fawn while mature does can produce twins and at times even triplets. When born, the doe will constantly clean the fawns to remove any afterbirth to minimize scent to avoid predators. This constant licking also stimulates the fawns breathing and circulation.

After three hours of being born, the doe will move the fawn from the birthing site and if the does have twins, will usually place them in different locations. With their color and spots, the fawns are basically hiding in plain sight, and this is where they will lay/sleep for their first few weeks. If you come across a newborn fawn, PLEASE leave it be, trust me, the little one will be just fine.

Does will leave their babies alone but will always be within 100 yards and will return to nurse 2 to 3 times a day, but as the days pass the feeding will increase to over 6 times a day. Newborn fawns can weigh between four and eight pounds, are able to stand on their wobbly legs in 30 minutes and can walk within a few hours.

Fawns will double their weight in two weeks and even though they are still nursing, mom will start teaching them what vegetation is best to nibble on when they’re 3 to 4 weeks old. By week five a fawn can be triple their birth weight and the 4 small (milk teeth) on their lower jaw are a little bigger now and they will start increasing their consumption of leaves, shrubs and twigs. The fawns will lose those first four teeth in 6 months, and their 32 permanent teeth will start coming in.

In the past, when does that have had fawns on or near our property, we have always seen mama looking back into the woods as if she was checking on her babies. So, when we see OUR first fawns of the year, I will post their pictures.