Fawns and Foxes

It was time to quit procrastinating and drive to the equine clinic to get my horses some of their vaccines so Thursday was the day! My appointment was at noon and the clinic is about 20 minutes away. The ponies hadn't been off the farm for several months but they did well. I usually have the vet come but I needed to save the $55 farm fee so I hauled them myself. Diesel is down compared to last year so it was worth it. Besides, the trip gave Jessie and Blue some new visuals and they like seeing other horses.

The good husband's brother came to help garden Tuesday and he was blessed with seeing a newborn fawn in what I call the 'First Field'. The 'First Field' is a little flat spot right next to the woods where the land is first cleared. The baby stumbled and fell a couple of times while trying to run from sound of his motor. The mother was up front headed for the creek. She is a new mother, that I do know. I think it is Brave One unless it is a deer that I am not familiar with. I was so envious as the good husband reported seeing a larger fawn by the cemetery whom I know was Bossy's new fawn. Everyone got to see the babies before me! Not fair! (yes, I am whining!)

So, on the way out, I always look in that field...and I first saw....hmmm, looks like it could be a bunch of old leaves, but it might be something else! I began to get excited. I was running a little late, but there was no way I was going to pass this up....I grabbed the camera and hopped out of the truck.

Oh, no, it didn't move! I hope it isn't dead! As I got closer I could see a groggy eyelid slowly open. The tiny baby ignored me. I didn't dare get any nearer as I was only 15 feet away but I bet I could have petted it. I hurried off to the trailer and proceeded down the lane.

The horses did well. Jessie is an old pro and just stood there. Blue was going to get his sheath cleaned so he was sedated first. No bean! He hasn't been cleaned for two years so that is good. The vet told me some geldings develop a bean quickly and have to be cleaned every few months or a urinary tract infection might develop.

I do not give all of the vaccines at once as I think that is a bit excessive for a horse's system. So, all we did was EWT (which has three vaccines in the injection... East and West Enceph and Tetanis), West Nile and Rabies. They each got blood pulled for Coggins and Blue is having a CBC and an Insulin/Glucose panel done as his sugar was high in October 2008. He is such an easy keeper! He could live on air. We still have intranasal Strangles and Influenza and then Pheumabort K by injection. We will complete those in a couple of weeks.

On the way out of the clinic, the three mothers and their babies wanted to see Jessie and Blue so I stopped and talked to the cuties and snapped their photos. Beautiful animals!

I was worried about that fawn. Why would a mother leave her baby so exposed? This has not happened since we have been on the farm. I was worried that she might have gotten run over as this area is closer to the road and near that curve where I found that other deer. I called another vet friend. Thankfully he told me that this is common and that many times the hay makers run over the fawns as they are hidden in the fields. That is awful! But, my field is mowed like a lawn so there is nothing to hide this baby! He went on to explain that fawns have no scent so they are not easily found by predators. I knew that. (Big Black Jack, Little Bear, Nugget and Devil Dog found fawns and ate them). Thank heavens for the electronic collars and I pray those stray dogs that chase my deer stay away.On the way back the baby was still there. Thankfully its breathing rhythms lessened as the sun was hidden by clouds and it was a bit cooler. The baby had changed position. I snapped another photo and quickly left. No mother in sight. I had another commitment that evening and quickly finished all of the barn chores including spreading corn piles for the deer. On the way out, I saw no deer but got to see two foxes! I think this is a baby on the left as the mother raised up when she saw me stop and take her photo. So cute! Daddy Cat was at the edge near the driveway, watching them eat. He then ran down to the barn upon hearing my car. I was wondering why he was up there as he usually stays in the barn or at the entrance doors. I am very happy that I finally got to see that fawn and was blessed with seeing those foxes as well. Hopefully their bellies will be full so they leave the baby fawns alone (and my bunnies)! Oh, and the baby in the First Field was gone so young mother deer decided to feed it and keep it safe!