In the summer months, we often see mule deer fawns in our neighborhood. This year, these twin fawns have been living on our property.

One of the twins has a badly broken front leg, but it’s healing itself. My veterinarian said this often happens in bones with growth plates. The injured deer keeps up pretty well with its sibling now.

Their mother keeps a watchful eye nearby. In this picture, she was hiding under a tree branch like I wouldn’t notice her. 🙂

Here she is next door. Can you find the hidden fawn?

The fawns often learn things the hard way. Moments after this picture was taken, the fawn tried to eat the cactus.

Deer like to stay in our yard because there’s plenty of water to drink. This fawn was bedded down next to our water feature.

Our dogs usually keep their distance from deer. Does will attack dogs (and people) if they think their young are threatened. My dog is in the lower right of this picture.

I love watching the deer, but they eat many of the things we plant. You can see how we installed fencing around one of the plants in front of my dog.

Mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, populations are down by 56 percent since 2004 in Deschutes County, Oregon, where I live. Though they can be pests, we tolerate their presence.

Here’s a short video of the fawns playing. I wish they would have been centered in front of the camera better, but you’ll see how they can be endlessly entertaining.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Summer daze

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