Fawns still have spots????

[Grizzly]

I live about 30 miles north of the twin cities in Minnesota. And I've seen a doe with her twin fawns all summer, and they still have they're spots. I just just saw them last night again and they have almost lost the spots now. Is this a doe that went late into heat last year? Why would they fawns still have spots this time of year?

[Squirrelhawker]

It could be a doe bred in the second heat. On one hand it would account for the seemingly late spots. Then again, the percentage of doe bred in the second heat is usually statistically smaller then the rest of the herd so the chances of you seeing a product of that breeding would smaller.

We have fawns here in WNY that still have some spots and we are essentially in the same latitude. Easy to forget how fast they can grow from Sept to Oct

[Grizzly]

Would it be a factor that she "lives" in town on a small wooded lot that has a small corn field on 1 side and a small bean field on the other that she went into heat late?

[JPH]

It is a result of a late fawn drop, which is often a consequence of an overpopulated and imbalanced herd.
 
Too many does and too few mature bucks can delay breeding.
 
 

[msbadger]

Well just like a dog they are just now blowing coat and getting there winter attire....notice a differance in the color of the adult deer? because some not all have gone from rust to brownish grey....it's the weather

[howhill1]

could be a late drop or just a late bloomer. deer are just like us they're all different. ive seen deer with spots in nov dec once or twice.

[JPH]

ORIGINAL: msbadger

Well just like a dog they are just now blowing coat and getting there winter attire....notice a differance in the color of the adult deer? because some not all have gone from rust to brownish grey....it's the weather

 
I do not agree that it is driven by weather. For one thing, the midwest has had an unusually cool Aug. and Sept. Secondly, if this were ture than deer in warm climates (Fla.) would never change coats.
 
IMO, deer react to one factor more than any other, photocycle.The length of the day is the only factor that is consistant in the deer's world over the long haul. Deer that are born late do not have the physical ability to react to the photocycle in a healthy way.
 
But honsetly, I'm just spouting off semi-informend opinions. Take all of us with a grain of salt. [:)]

[Grizzly]

Being late bloomers, what are they're chanches of surviving a Minnesota winter?

[dtrain56]

they are not late, deer don't lose spots until they start to put on winter coat...

[JPH]

ORIGINAL: dtrain56

they are not late, deer don't lose spots until they start to put on winter coat...

 
Most fawns in Iowa have lost their spots by now.