Why are white-tailed deer fawns left hidden and alone for the first few weeks of life?
Answer
They are virtually scentless initially, and the mother returns to nurse them.
The initial life strategy for a white-tailed deer fawn is centered on camouflage and concealment facilitated by their near lack of scent during the first weeks of life. Mothers deliberately leave their spotted fawns hidden by themselves, often in dense brush or tall grass, while the mother forages nearby. This isolation protects the vulnerable fawn from detection by predators that rely heavily on scent tracking. The strategy is highly effective because the mother minimizes her own scent presence near the hidden baby. The mother carefully manages this separation, returning several times throughout the day specifically to nurse the fawn.
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