A New Resident at Myakka River State Park

Spring is truly a time of renewal. As the days warm and lengthen and the rain splashes upon the ground there is new life in the park. Flowers begin to bloom with the promise of summer fruit and the next generation of critters are born.

Spring Iris

Mid-morning Friday two visitors alerted both Bill and I to a motherless newborn fawn near the road. This must have been important as Bill and I monitor different areas of the park so they repeated their story at least twice. Bill was at the popular 'alligator bridge' 

Alligator swimming away from the bridge

and I at the famous 'Canopy Walkway' and nature walk.

View from the Canopy Tower

There are no coincidences in life and this day Bill and I 'happened' to cycle towards the Weir at the same time which was exactly when the couple who spotted the fawn chose to cycle our way. Yes, you guessed it, we all met and they shared the latest location for the fawn.

Newborn safe in the brush

Graciously, they guided us to it's last know location. Of course, the fawn had moved but a short search revealed it's hiding place. Now the fawn lay only feet from the road, it was a newborn and probably too weak to cross the asphalt road after birth.

Admit, it is hard to see in the brush

We called a ranger for a specific plan and were told “Keep a watch on the area but leave the fawn alone. The mother will remember where she left it and return.” Everyone left the area in hopes the mother would soon return. Two hours later I rechecked the area only to find the fawn still resting on a palm frond. To my uneducated eye, the fawn appeared scared and tired of resting near the roadside. Perhaps I misread the expression and it was one of impatience because on the next stop the fawn was no longer in the hiding place. An absence of disturbed area and fur indicated the mother did return to usher her newborn to a safer place.

Limpkin on the marsh
near the fawn's last hiding place

Rangers know of what they speak.

A bit of information on new born deer...

Females usually give birth to a single fawn, but if food is plentiful they will often have twins. Fawns are spotted and weigh about 3-4 kg (7-9 lb) at birth. The mother leaves them hidden in the vegetation for a week or two, but returns to nurse them several times a day. In this hiding phase, it is important not to approach or handle fawns. If you find a fawn lying down and it doesn’t run away, please leave it alone. The fawn has NOT been abandoned; the mother is watching from somewhere close by.http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/mammals/White_tailed_Deer.php