Ouch. She is certainly a survivor; that looks like a cougar near miss.
Fawns are easy pickings for predators, and less than half make it. I watched those babies frolicking around, and the more curious one wandered off to the river, while the other stayed near the milk machine. The mom didn't seem too concerned either way, natural selection in action.
This forlorn-looking little buck walked right past my river chair, all alone. The male offspring are driven off early, this to avoid inbreeding. Although he might have lost his mother in another way. Don't see a rosy future here.
I didn't give deer much thought before we bought this house. They are complex creatures. Deer evolution has spanned 20 million years and it's been carefully documented. Like most things in life, the more you learn, the more interesting it becomes.
Looking forward to one more quiet day in town. Hitting the long road back to Seattle tomorrow.
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