"TEENAGE BOYS & THEIR MOTHERS"

Mule Deer (Female & Immature Male) - 6 Photos

There was a small herd of Mule Deer (nursery group) laying down & relaxing in the meadow just next to a thickly wooded area. 

There was one youngster right next to an adult. He was the first one to get to his feet and immediately nudged his companion, who must have been his mother, into standing as well. It was almost that child attitude, "I'm up, you need to be up too." (Photo #1 & Photo #2).

But as Photo #3 & Photo #4, show, there is a strong bond between mother & youngster and it is definitely a loving one.

But then it was wandering off on our own and checking out last fall's remaining fruit on branches (Photo #5) & a quick scratch (Photo #6).

I referred to the immature deer as "he". Looking closely at young deer's head, in the photos, you can just see two small tufts of hair on each side of his head, just at brow level, which protrude on what looks like bumps, most likely the start of his first set of antlers. And he definitely has that teenage boy attitude, confident & a little pushy. 

So come this Spring, if his mother is pregnant, he will be pushed away & eventually will be joining the bachelor group.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6