There are certain occasions when baby deer are referred to as kids or calves. The babies of red deer and sika are known as calves, while the young of roe deer are known as kids.
Even the well-known white-tailed deer of North America have different names for their young ones. Initially, babies are referred to as fawns. However, after they reach the age of one year, they are known as yearlings.
Once they reach their second year, they are given the title of a buck. Females will be referred to as does.
Younger Stages of Baby Deer
When deer are born, they spend a great majority of their time with their mothers. The fathers normally leave once mating is done and don’t have a role in the lives of the babies.
When young male deer reach a certain age, they will leave the care of their mothers and search for mates. Female fawns will often spend significant amounts of time with their mothers, usually until they mate and give birth to fawns of their own.
Three Baby Deer Names
It’s true that fawn is the most commonly used term when it comes to baby deer. Many people aren’t aware of the terms kid or calf. Let’s examine all three terms to find out what a baby deer is called.
Baby Deer Called Fawns
Newborn fawns possess certain traits right after birth, many of which will disappear as time goes on. Most fawns will have white spots throughout the body, normally on the top and backside of the animal.
These baby deer aren’t capable of taking care of themselves or avoiding the danger of predators. The white spots are actually a protection method to guard them against danger. In the wild, these spots allow the fawns to camouflage themselves easily.
When a doe is healthy, normally, she will give birth to twins or triplets. A healthy fawn will weigh somewhere around eight pounds and will learn to walk within an hour of being born.
Doe are extremely vigilant when it comes to the safety of their young. Immediately after giving birth, the mother will lead their young to a different location. The doe will purposely keep the fawns about 200 feet away from each other. This is done specifically in the event of a predator attacking.
If one becomes a victim, this gives the other time to make it to safety. This is a unique protection when it comes to various animals in the wild.
Baby Deer Called Kids
The term kid is rarely used for a baby deer. It’s not uncommon for young children to use this term for a baby deer simply as a mistake. However, in reality, this is a term used for baby deer. It’s only specific to a few species, though.
Baby Deer Called Calves
Larger species that belong to the deer family have babies that are referred to as calves. These species include wapiti, elk, and red deer. In these situations, adult males are called bulls, and females are known as cows. Male fawns of these species won’t grow up to be called bucks.
Timeline of Baby Deer
The following section outlines the timeline for baby deer.
The First Month
The first month is probably the most crucial in the lives of baby deer. Although these animals will learn to walk within an hour of being born, it takes up to a month to gain enough strength in their legs to walk efficiently.
After this period, they can keep up with the pace of their mothers and the rest of the herd. Young deer possess another trait that keeps them safe and prevents leading predators to them.
After a young deer is born, they are odor-free. This is true of female and male deer. This means that no scent is present that would allow a predator to track them.
Also, a mother deer is not always seen immediately to the side of her newborn baby deer. She will purposely keep her distance to avoid a predator picking up her scent and attacking her babies. Typically, when fawns are lying in a field, the mother hides in the bushes nearby to keep a close eye on her young.
Many times, fawns will attempt to follow their mother into the bushes. However, she will push on their shoulders as a way of communicating. This signals to them that they shouldn’t follow.
Deer Fawn Diet
Deer typically feast on items like shrubs, acorns, grass, and soybeans. Once a fawn has gotten all of the nutrition available from the mother, she will teach them to survive and find food.
Caring for a Baby Deer Fawn
Have you ever found a young deer that has lost its mother? If you’ve ever encountered a fawn alone in the wilderness, normally, the mother will show up very quickly. However, if she doesn’t, it could mean the fawn has been separated from the herd.
In reality, fawns have the instinct to live without their mothers for about 12 hours. If you find a fawn alone, the best thing you can do is wait for the adult deer to come back.
If she never returns, the best course of action is to call a wildlife professional. They are well-trained in taking care of young deer when the mother can’t be located.
You should never attempt to feed young deer milk or formula if you’re not trained. Even this simple act can mean the death of this fawn.
Newborn deer are normally too weak to digest unnatural products. This is why contacting an expert is vital, as they’ll have methods of ensuring the fawn receives the proper nutrition.
What Is a Small Baby Deer Called? (Small Deer Species)
Sometimes when you see a small deer, it doesn’t always mean it’s a baby. There are certain species of adult deer that are incredibly tiny. These species include:
· Water deer species
· Pudu deer species
· Pygmy Brocket deer species
· Hog deer species
Fawns of these small species can be especially petite. They are known as pudu fawns and mouse fawns.
A pudu is the smallest species of deer on the entire planet. After they are born, these fawns are no higher than six inches tall.
Is There a Term for Young Venison?
Venison is the term used to describe the meat of a deer. This is not a specific term used for the meat of a baby deer, and it’s not called fawn. There is no term used to describe the meat of young deer, similar to how young bovine meat is called veal.
Killing young deer for their meat is illegal in most states. This is punishable by a fine and even arrest in some cases.
Dos and Don’ts
When you see a young deer in the wild, it may be very tempting to touch or even pick the deer up. However, this is a huge mistake and should never be attempted.
Because fawns are born odor-free, it’s vital that they remain this way. When you touch a fawn, you unwittingly leave your scent on their body and make them a target for predators. This takes away their defense mechanism.
However, if you accidentally touch the deer or someone you know does, there are steps to correct this mistake. The first thing you should do is grab a towel or any other clean cloth and rub it in the grass.
Afterward, rub this towel on the entire body of the fawn and place it back in the spot you found it. This will remove most of the human scent from the animal.
Even if you believe a fawn is hungry, you shouldn’t attempt to feed it. Fawns have a very strict diet and feeding it anything it’s not used to can lead to sickness and even death.
It’s not uncommon to hear of someone taking a deer home and attempting to raise it. This is also strongly discouraged.
Aside from this being illegal, it also puts the animals’ life in danger. When you take any wild animal out of its natural habitat, it’s difficult for them to adapt to any new environment. It’s very common for captured animals to suffer from malnutrition or obtain other injuries.
There may be different names for fawns, depending on the species. However, it’s important to understand that all the same rules apply, regardless of the name.
You should never hunt these young deer or harvest them for their meat in any way. Additionally, you should never touch or feed a young deer in the wild.
It’s important to follow these rules whether you’re a hunter or just happen to spot one in the wild. The failure to acknowledge these regulations can lead to a hefty fine and even jail in some cases.
When you do spot one of these animals, the best thing you can do is enjoy them from a distance!
What Are Baby Deer Called FAQs
Are younger deer always called fawns?
No, young deer aren’t always called fawns. This may be the most common name, but it’s not the only one. There are times when young deer are known as kids or calves. The name is dependent on the exact species of deer. There are also other animals from different species known as fawns.
Can you take younger deer as pets?
You may have seen someone with a young deer as a pet. While this may seem cute, it’s never a good idea.
Many people may think they are helping a deer by taking it out of the wild. Sometimes fawns are found alone, and people may take them home. However, this is far from doing them a favor. The majority of the time, this type of action ends up resulting in the death of these young deer.
Most people aren’t trained in the diets of these animals, and giving them the wrong food will lead to their demise. Additionally, there are other health issues and certain germs or bacteria that young deer can’t fight off. This can also lead to their death.
At the very least, you should understand that it’s illegal to keep deer as pets. If you are caught with one of these animals in your home, you could be fined and even face jail time.
Can you hunt young deer?
It’s never a good idea to hunt young deer. In almost every state, it is illegal to hunt or trap these animals for any reason.
These laws are in place to protect the deer population. If too many people began killing these young animals, there would be issues with maintaining a healthy population of deer.
There are certain seasons where it’s legal to hunt female deer, but only if they are adults. When you hunt animals on your own private property, there are no regulations or seasons involved. It’s your land, and you’re allowed to do with it as you wish. This includes animals on your property.
However, it’s still bad practice to hunt these young animals. Number one, you won’t be able to harvest much meat from a young deer, so the killing is senseless. Number two, it’s an easy hunt, and it takes the sport out of the hunt. Hunting and killing young deer is a tasteless act in general.
What should I do if I find a young deer?
If you find a young deer in the wild, you might think that it’s abandoned. However, you are most likely wrong in this assumption. Female deer purposely keep their distance from their young so predators and other animals don’t pick up their scent.
Give it enough time, and you’ll most likely find the mother returns. However, if she doesn’t, you should never try to pick the deer up or touch it. Transferring your scent to these animals could be a death sentence. The best course of action is to always contact wildlife professionals to handle the situation.