Doe gives birth to twin fawns in Walnut Creek backyard
By Gary Bogue
Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 7:02 am in deer.
Two fawns born in Walnut Creek backyard. Photo by Jean Faszholz, Walnut Creek, CA
Gary:
Your column this morning (May 2, “Do deer leave fawns unattended?”) has prompted me to write about the amazing event my downstairs neighbor and I witnessed the other morning.
When I opened the drapes and looked out on the beautiful hills (as I do every morning) I was thrilled to note that a doe had just given birth to twin fawns on the lawn right below our window. I immediately phoned my animal loving neighbor, Marg. We spent the morning peeking from our windows and patios … taking pictures and phoning each other on the progress of this little family.
Two fawns born in Walnut Creek backyard. Photo by Jean Faszholz, Walnut Creek, CA
The mother … licked the grass to get rid of any scent (I suppose) and spent the morning nuzzling and thoroughly cleaning her twins. They started nursing as she was lying down … or trying to find the spot, I should say! Eventually they were able to nurse as she stood.
It seemed to take awhile for her to have milk … and I suppose that is normal. She left them under nearby shrubs while she ate some photenia leaves. It was amusing to see several turkeys come close to have a look … She chased them away but ignored the quail gathered around to congratulate her, I imagine! Eventually a noise spooked her and she traveled across the driveway and up the hill with one fawn.
The other stayed in the lawn, as flat as possible and perfectly motionless. When I looked later, it was gone and I am quite sure she must have come back for it. So you are doing the readers a service when you tell them not to disturb fawns they think might be abandoned.
Jean Faszholz, Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, California
Jean:
What great photos. Thanks for sharing them with us! Amazing things go on in our backyards. That’s why I call backyards … the “Urban Wilderness.”
A few years ago, a professor at UC-Berkeley and some of his grad students did a study on urban deer. They tranquilized a bunch of bucks and does, put radio-transmitter collars on them and tracked them 24/7 to learn what they could about them. They discovered some urban deer are born in backyards, spend their lives wandering through town, and eventually die in town. Interesting. /Gary
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May 7th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Thank you for sharing. I had to admit I’m a little jealous
May 9th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Kristine,
I am so glad I was home that morning to observe this thrilling event. I wish everyone could have the experience. Hope you will someday. Thanks for the comment.
May 10th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Thank you so much for this article. I am a nurse at Kaiser and I enjoyed this so much. It made my day. It took my tiredness away if only for a few moments and allowed me to smile and settle down before my next shift.
Please keep up the great work and thanks for the adorable pictures. I hope to live in Rossmore someday after I retire. I know how beautiful it is out there.
May 17th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
soooo coool I love the little guys, thanks for sharing…beats reading about politics!