Just last week these three fawns and their mother snuck up on me while I was working in my flower garden. I had an eerie feeling that I was being watched. I quickly turned around and there the four of them were about 20 feet away. Naturally I didn't have my phone or camera with me, and off they ran.
I have enjoyed watching the triplet fawns all summer, and I've been trying to get a photo ever since they were born last May. Seems like every time I see them I don't have my camera or phone with me, I can't get all of them into one frame, or they are moving way too fast. I had all but given up! But when I got home last Thursday evening at about 6:30 pm, lo and behold, there they were -- taking a nap in our backyard. (Mom was watching them from the treeline.) I finally got my opportunity.
Over the years I've seen lots of twin fawns, but never triplets until this year. After doing a little research I found out triplets can be a sign of a very healthy deer population. Imagine that! Approximately 12% percent of does will bear triplets when deer numbers are in balance with high-quality habitat.
Did you know that twin and triplet fawns are not necessarily sired by a single buck? Research has shown that 20 to 25% of twin fawn sets are sired by two different bucks. Recently, the first case of "multiple paternity" in a set of triplets - meaning three different sires - was documented by researchers at Auburn University in Alabama.
Sometimes multiple does and whitetail deer fawns will group together. Interestingly, the area where the fawn is born normally becomes its adult habitat. So, it looks like I shouldn't abandon my "Liquid Fence" deer repellent applications just yet. Hopefully, I can start training them young to stay away from my flowers!!
I have enjoyed watching the triplet fawns all summer, and I've been trying to get a photo ever since they were born last May. Seems like every time I see them I don't have my camera or phone with me, I can't get all of them into one frame, or they are moving way too fast. I had all but given up! But when I got home last Thursday evening at about 6:30 pm, lo and behold, there they were -- taking a nap in our backyard. (Mom was watching them from the treeline.) I finally got my opportunity.
Over the years I've seen lots of twin fawns, but never triplets until this year. After doing a little research I found out triplets can be a sign of a very healthy deer population. Imagine that! Approximately 12% percent of does will bear triplets when deer numbers are in balance with high-quality habitat.
Did you know that twin and triplet fawns are not necessarily sired by a single buck? Research has shown that 20 to 25% of twin fawn sets are sired by two different bucks. Recently, the first case of "multiple paternity" in a set of triplets - meaning three different sires - was documented by researchers at Auburn University in Alabama.
Sometimes multiple does and whitetail deer fawns will group together. Interestingly, the area where the fawn is born normally becomes its adult habitat. So, it looks like I shouldn't abandon my "Liquid Fence" deer repellent applications just yet. Hopefully, I can start training them young to stay away from my flowers!!
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