A roe deer in the tall grass with a fawn by Eric Wander

The roe deer doe and her hidden fawn Anyone walking through the Dutch countryside in spring or early summer may sometimes be in for a special encounter. A roe deer doe stands quietly grazing amongst the tall grass, whilst her fawn lies hidden, virtually invisible, somewhere nearby.

A roe deer deliberately keeps her fawn at a distance. This is because, in the first few weeks, the young fawn has hardly any scent and lies completely still when danger threatens. With its spotted coat, it disappears almost entirely amongst the grass. Meanwhile, the mother is never far away and returns regularly to care for and nurse her fawn.

This sometimes makes for a beautiful scene: the mother, calm and alert, peering out above the grass, whilst her little one remains hidden amongst the green blades. To us, it may seem as though she has simply left her fawn behind, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is, in fact, a clever survival strategy.

The fawn relies entirely on its camouflage and on its mother’s patience. Only when it is strong enough will it begin to follow her more and more often. So, if you spot a roe deer standing alone in the tall grass whilst out for a walk, be sure to look around carefully. There’s a good chance that a pair of little ears is hidden somewhere nearby amongst the grass. A hidden piece of nature that only reveals itself when you look closely.