Four Fawns
- Thread starter desertrat
- Start date
desertrat
0_0
No, there are a couple other does we can't see here. This one is the head moma , though.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Two...
...words for this problem;
Clay more.
...words for this problem;
Clay more.
Dupontster
Would THIS face lie?
Larry Gude
Strung Out
Oh...
...I'm sorry. Did I leave out a word? Why, yes! It appears thus!
MORE claymore.
It's actually ONE word: claymore.
...I'm sorry. Did I leave out a word? Why, yes! It appears thus!
MORE claymore.
Dupontster
Would THIS face lie?
Fixed
M
Mousebaby
Guest
Hubby says gestation period is too long, highly doubtful it's the same mom's. He said they can have twins though.
Pasofever
Does my butt look big?
In Northern deer, gestation or pregnancy typically occurs between November and July. This time period encompasses winter, when natural forage is limited in quality and availability and does not meet a deer’s daily energy requirements. In Southern deer, gestation may occur throughout the year since food availability is not as seasonally restricted, but it still occurs during winter for many Southern populations. Southern deer may not experience the seasonal range of forage quality and abundance like their Northern counterparts, but they are exposed to reduced nutritional levels during winter.
Gestation averages 200 days for whitetails and is divided into three trimesters. For does bred during mid-November the first trimester runs through the end of January, the second trimester runs from the end of January through the end of March, and the last trimester from about the first of April through birth of the fawn(s) in early June. Northern deer are in a negative energy balance during much of the first two trimesters. This means they use more energy on a daily basis than they receive from their forage. Northern deer lose weight during this period and supplement their forage by burning stored body fat. Research from the University of New Hampshire demonstrated that adult does get as much as 50 percent of their daily nutrition during winter from fat reserves. This is one reason it is critical for does to have access to abundant high-quality forage during late summer and autumn.
Whitetails are able to delay development of the fetus during the first trimester and for much of the second trimester. Thus, a fetus places minimal nutritional demands on the doe during a nutritionally limited time of the year. Energy costs for pregnant does are about equal to those for nonpregnant does until around day 91 of gestation (mid-February for a doe bred in mid-November). Energy costs are then slightly higher for pregnant does through the end of the second trimester (within 4 percent of the first trimester’s energy costs). This delayed development and long gestation reduce a doe’s daily protein requirements and allow her to simply “maintain” her pregnancy during winter when forage quality and availability is low.
The third trimester is where the action is. Energy costs for pregnant does skyrocket during this period (April to early June for a doe bred in mid-November) because this is when 82 percent of fetal growth occurs. Gestation is costly. The total energy cost for pregnant does is 16 percent higher than for nonpregnant does, and 92 percent of the increased cost occurs during the third trimester.
Fortunately, the third trimester coincides with spring green-up. Generally speaking, spring green-up progresses from South to North across the United States and Canada. Green-up may occur as early as March in the Southeast and as late as May in northern New England. This timing is crucial as most of the increased energy and protein costs in the third trimester occur after green-up. In well-managed habitats, green-up provides an abundance of high-quality forage, timed perfectly with the increased nutritional demands of pregnant does.
This is also why late-winter storms can be devastating to a deer herd. Many deer have exhausted their fat supplies by April. Ironically, April conditions are likely as important as February conditions relative to the impact of winter on Northern deer populations. If green-up arrives late, the added nutritional demands of gestation may be too much for a doe to overcome. Even if the doe survives, she may be unable to provide enough nutrition to a developing fetus.
So, how does February’s weather affect a developing fetus? Actually, it has very little direct effect in healthy does. Rather, the weather affects the quality and quantity of food available to the doe, and the rate at which she uses her fat supply. The doe’s fat supply will then affect the fetus during a later stage of development. Mild weather and good winter habitat allow does to slow the use of their fat reserves. These does will have more stored energy for the beginning of the third trimester which occurs before green-up. Harsh weather accelerates the use of fat reserves. Healthy does will be fine during most winters, but does entering winter in poor condition may not survive, or if they do, they may be unable to give birth or successfully raise a fawn. Good winter habitat combats severe weather and helps ensure does have adequate fat reserves to provide the necessary nutrition at the start of the important final trimester.
Gestation averages 200 days for whitetails and is divided into three trimesters. For does bred during mid-November the first trimester runs through the end of January, the second trimester runs from the end of January through the end of March, and the last trimester from about the first of April through birth of the fawn(s) in early June. Northern deer are in a negative energy balance during much of the first two trimesters. This means they use more energy on a daily basis than they receive from their forage. Northern deer lose weight during this period and supplement their forage by burning stored body fat. Research from the University of New Hampshire demonstrated that adult does get as much as 50 percent of their daily nutrition during winter from fat reserves. This is one reason it is critical for does to have access to abundant high-quality forage during late summer and autumn.
Whitetails are able to delay development of the fetus during the first trimester and for much of the second trimester. Thus, a fetus places minimal nutritional demands on the doe during a nutritionally limited time of the year. Energy costs for pregnant does are about equal to those for nonpregnant does until around day 91 of gestation (mid-February for a doe bred in mid-November). Energy costs are then slightly higher for pregnant does through the end of the second trimester (within 4 percent of the first trimester’s energy costs). This delayed development and long gestation reduce a doe’s daily protein requirements and allow her to simply “maintain” her pregnancy during winter when forage quality and availability is low.
The third trimester is where the action is. Energy costs for pregnant does skyrocket during this period (April to early June for a doe bred in mid-November) because this is when 82 percent of fetal growth occurs. Gestation is costly. The total energy cost for pregnant does is 16 percent higher than for nonpregnant does, and 92 percent of the increased cost occurs during the third trimester.
Fortunately, the third trimester coincides with spring green-up. Generally speaking, spring green-up progresses from South to North across the United States and Canada. Green-up may occur as early as March in the Southeast and as late as May in northern New England. This timing is crucial as most of the increased energy and protein costs in the third trimester occur after green-up. In well-managed habitats, green-up provides an abundance of high-quality forage, timed perfectly with the increased nutritional demands of pregnant does.
This is also why late-winter storms can be devastating to a deer herd. Many deer have exhausted their fat supplies by April. Ironically, April conditions are likely as important as February conditions relative to the impact of winter on Northern deer populations. If green-up arrives late, the added nutritional demands of gestation may be too much for a doe to overcome. Even if the doe survives, she may be unable to provide enough nutrition to a developing fetus.
So, how does February’s weather affect a developing fetus? Actually, it has very little direct effect in healthy does. Rather, the weather affects the quality and quantity of food available to the doe, and the rate at which she uses her fat supply. The doe’s fat supply will then affect the fetus during a later stage of development. Mild weather and good winter habitat allow does to slow the use of their fat reserves. These does will have more stored energy for the beginning of the third trimester which occurs before green-up. Harsh weather accelerates the use of fat reserves. Healthy does will be fine during most winters, but does entering winter in poor condition may not survive, or if they do, they may be unable to give birth or successfully raise a fawn. Good winter habitat combats severe weather and helps ensure does have adequate fat reserves to provide the necessary nutrition at the start of the important final trimester.
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
Westmoreland park was loaded with deer last week
Boy and I were chasing them on our bike
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
Right across the Potomac, about 10 miles downstream from the 301 bridge. They have trails, but I didn't see any road apples
