Look closely at the first photo, and you’ll see a tiny fawn nursing. The mother stashed the fawn in the meadow right below my house! I watched her from the house as she walked around the mowed perimeter of the meadow and checked for danger before she went to the fawn. What a wonderful surprise to see the tiny fawn appear out of the grass! Later she led the fawn across my road and into the woods. I think she moves the fawn when the field gets sunny, then brings it back later; I have watched her lie down next to the baby for the past two days.
It’s been hot and muggy, but my rambles continue. I was dismayed to see a dead garter snake in the road last week and devastated to find a smashed box turtle earlier this week. I don’t understand how anyone could be going fast enough on our steep gravel road, which has been eroded by the heavy rains and has rills and gullies, to run over a turtle.
I see turkey hens with poults when I walk, but they disappear into the bushes and trees before I can get a clear photo. Meanwhile, toms and hens without poults (chicks) come by the house several times a day. I often hear them gobbling and clucking before I get up in the morning (and I am an early riser!).
The deer come, too, but not as many. It seems that the yearling bucks and the young does who were not bred have reached the point where they are expected to make it on their own. I think they are a bit confused my their mom’s behavior, but at least these two have each other for company. Some of the does are still pregnant, and I keep watch for more fawns. You know I’ll post photos when they show up!
French Broad Hollow Ramble 
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