How old are white tailed deer when they leave their mom?

Question

I was in my yard with a guinea pig when a deer fawn came up to use, just a few feet away. On the most part it was a silly encounter, since he stared at my guinea pig and licked his nose and seemed to be saying, "What the heck is that?" And my guinea pig was staring and nibbling on some plants and seemed to be saying, "What the heck is that?" But he seemed a little young to be on his own.

He was pretty big but not adult height and he still had some spots. The fawn seemed a little thin but definitely nowhere near starving. Before it entered the open space of our yard I heard it walking around for a while, but once I could see it I heard no other footsteps. And I saw him in my yard before but didn't see another deer then either. Did he already leave his mom, and more importantly will he be alright on his own?

Answer 1

Yes, from what you have described he is old enough to be on his own.

My aunt is a Wildlife Rehabilitator and every year she gets about 10 deer Fawns. Last summer right after school got out ( not this barelly ended summer, but the one before that ) I spent the whole summer with her helping Injured and Orphaned Wildlife.

It was really exciting!

She tought me that deer fawns will have some of their spots even after they leave their mom. It just helps them blend in with their enviorment a lil better until they are smart enough to really be on their own.

I am guessing that he is probably about a year and a half years old. Maybe a bit younger. He probably left his Mom just a few months ago.

He is probably kinda thin because he is just getting the hang of eating and foraging without mom around.

It can be pretty tuff when they are young.

I am sure that he is still young seeing as he is so curious, hence the "guinea pig" scene.

Well, aparently the Pig has got a new buddy! LOL!

Your lucky you have wildlife in your own back yard.

The most wildlife we have in our Back yard are a Few Robins and a Raccoon!

Not including our Pet Domestic Ducks.

Well, getting really off the subject here, I never did get why Guinea Pigs are called Guinea Pigs. First, are they even from somewhere called "Guinea"? Second, their so called "oink" doesn't sound like a pig at all!

And third: They dont look like pigs, unless pigs suddenly became Rodents ( Guinea pigs are rodents right? )

Ah, Judgerz, I always go way off the subject!

Answer 2

My lap top isn't working well, so couldn't research as I would have wished. However, I could load wikipedia..sigh

Here is a quote>

Females give birth to one, two or even possibly three spotted young, known as fawns in mid to late spring, generally in May or June. Fawns lose their spots during the first summer and will weigh from 44 to 77 pounds (20 to 35 kg) by the first winter. Male fawns tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females.

animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/ac...

Fawns begin to follow their mother on her foraging trips once they are about 4 weeks old and are fully ruminant at two months old. White-tailed deer fawns are nursed for 8 to 10 weeks before they are weaned. Young males leave their mother after one year but young females often stay with their mother for two years.

Answer 3

From what I understand about deer, they stay with their mother for about two or three years (by then the deer has reached sexual maturity), and when mating season comes in, which is also early spring, they separate. But they aren't always stuck at the shoulder, they do wander off for food.