Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Oh deer

At our current house we have a doe and 2 fawns that are regular customers, which seems to be the norm for the last few years.
But at the construction site for the new house (1/2 mile away and where the pond is) we have a doe with 4 fawns regularly visiting the pond.
From what I have read, 2 is not unusual but three or more is.
Anyone know whether deer just care for their own or will a doe "babysit" ? One of the fawns is darker and has mor color in the tail and ears.

Also this evening the 2 fawns were in the yard with a "small" buck, maybe 6 pointer, with no doe in sight.
Obviously I am not a hunter or very knowlegable about the habits of whitetails, but that seems unusual too.

sean

The does were probably close by. She is prob. trying to ween them this time of year, and they're browsing on there own some. I have seen does stand back in the woods and watch they're fawns feed in the open many times.

Did they have spots?? Most weening of last years fawns should be done by now.. Spinnerbait is right on I'm sure the momma was close by unless She was dead.. 4 is extremely rare 3 I've seen once 2 is fairly common.. It's hard to say on the group of 4..

Just came from the property this morning to let the drywallers in and the doe with 4 fawns was back in the pond again. All still have spots but seem to be outgrowing them.
They are interesting to watch becuase the look and act just like full grown deer, just smaller.
I'll try to get some pics with a real camera.
sean

Does will sometimes take on the fawns of other does, particularly those closely related to them. It is very common in deer farms, not so much in the wild. Most does in an area are related in some way, half sisters, aunt, niece, grandmother, granddaughter, etc... It's the bucks that are usually completely unrelated and often were born miles away from where they currently live. Most does give birth to a single fawn the first time they give birth(40% when they are 1 YO, 60% when 2 YO). There after, if the habitat is good, they will generally have twins. If habitat is excellent they may give birth to triplets. Quadruplets are EXTREMELY rare... I have only seen what I was near certain to be quadruplets once. As an interesting side note, when a does has multiple fawns they are often from different fathers...

As stated above it could either be quadruplets - rare as indicated but possible - or an 'adoption'. I've seen this happen this time of year with our deer herd around my property - 2 does with fawns are paired up and one gets hit by a car - the remaining doe keeps the orphaned fawn with her. I would expect as mentioned by CJB that this would only occur with familiar relations, but hard to prove.