Survival of the Fittest

This past weekend I was puttering about the house and assembling a batch of venison chili for dinner.  For reasons unknown I walked to the living room and looking out the back window spied this,

click on images for a closer look

 

Yup.  A boy fawn looking for all the world dazed and confused.

Middle of the day, broad daylight and walking into the yard without an ounce of precaution or a lick of hesitancy.  The thought occurred to me that he might have been orphaned as no proper whitetail mama would countenance such risky and careless behavior.

I observed him for a few moments as he made his way across the yard and eventually within view of the dogs.

The Labs gave him a well-deserved barking and he skedaddled.  Hopefully, having learned a modicum of self-awareness and caution. 



If not - that little deer doesn't stand a chance against nature.  Because nature can be a tough mother...