In my opinion this is the cutest baby mammal of any species I’ve ever photographed.
I posted this photo in one of my earliest blog posts, on June 10, 2011 and quite soon after I started blogging so I’d be surprised if any of my current readers have ever seen it. Not many folks saw it back then either because that early in my blogging career followers of Feathered Photography were almost nonexistent.
The fawn, still very young, was exuberantly running around its mama on Antelope Island, apparently just for the fun of it. It was fast enough to be hard to track with my lens and maintain sharp focus, especially with the similarly colored and close grasses constantly grabbing my focus points. I like this running pose, the catch light in the eye (often very difficult to get with these little guys) and of course the behavior.
But most of all I love those exaggerated baby features, especially the large club feet and oversized, dark eyes. I rarely see the feet of pronghorn fawns because they’re nearly always hidden in the grass but this running pose exposed the front two so they really caught my eye.
In the late spring (end of May) there are presumably many pronghorn fawns on the island but I sure don’t see them very often. Until they’re about this age the fawns spend the majority of their time hidden in the vegetation while their mother is out foraging. When they’re hunkered down low in the grass they’re virtually impossible to spot and the few fawns I do see walking with their mother are usually a great distance away. Mama is usually very careful about stuff like that when her fawns are involved.
I was just lucky with this one.
Ron
Note: I see I’ve reverted to using that “cute” word again. Sometimes there are just no suitable substitutes.
Delightful!
Totally adorable! ❤️ Everything about him is precious. Nothing beats watching the freedom of a youngster frolicking about exploring their world!😍 Yes those eyes and feet are the best. Although I didn’t see any this young when I was in MT., I found all ages to be extremely handsome.
Great Photo. SUPER CUTE 🙂
Absolutely adorable.
And full of the joy of life.
Wonderful way to start my day. Megathanks.
Thank you, EC.
Cute! Cute! Cute! What else fits??? Wish I had that energy!!!
I don’t think anything else fits as well, Patty.
Happy to read a post with a happy ending, even if it is a old one — it’s a nice break from the mayhem of the last 5 days in Ventura County. So glad you were able to help the little one get free. I lived in Wyoming many years ago, and always loved seeing the antelope herds in the distance while riding my bicycle on less-traveled roads. So your fawn doing a happy-dance brings back fond memories!
And now realize I mixed up today’s post with the one you linked to in your reply to Judy about the poor little caught in barbed wire (which was a happy ending). It’s been a long 5 days … 🙄
No problem, Chris. Things like that can be difficult to keep track of.
Cute works for me quite well.
This little guy looks so happy frolicking around in the grass. Hopefully no barb wire fence mishaps for him. Your like has a happy story and a sad story with the Biologist crying. I can understand his reaction.
Thank you, Ron
It really shook that biologist up, Alice. I think I felt as sorry for him as I did for the young pronghorn.
Perfect photo of the cutie!
Thank you, Jean.
Another fun post. I see Pronghorn around here all the time, but never get a chance to see the young playing around. They are pretty well hidden in the sage brush till later in the spring. Cute is the word.
Thanks, Trudy. I don’t see them very often either so this one was a treat.
The picture is showing that he/she is happy to be alive – great image. As has been said by you and others land is diminishing for wildlife.
Development should be up rather than out! There isn’t enough land for wildlife as it is. My kids and grandkids are going to be left a zoo to look at.
I am glad I have seen what I have seen and sad what is happening to wildlife and the environment.
“My kids and grandkids are going to be left a zoo to look at”
That’s exactly right, Dick. I simply can’t believe how badly we’re messing everything up.
What a wonderful way to start the week! Thank you! This little guy is definitely a cutie and looks like he’s having the time of his life. There’s something special about the joyous abandon of a young animal.
“There’s something special about the joyous abandon of a young animal.”
There sure is, no matter the species.
We have pronghorns here in the eastern plains of New Mexico. I never tire of seeing them. This fawn is adorable!
Agreed.
I’d say ‘cute’ does it, perfectly. I can’t remember ever seeing a photo of a pronghorn fawn, although I have been lucky enough to see a few pronghorns in the wild, in western Kansas. Wonderful image.
Thank you, Shoreacres.
Adorable – what a precious creature. Outstanding photo Ron. So bummed out that we are soon going to lose what is left of our pronghorns due to the never ending population growth. Love this area of the country, but if I was a younger man I would be looking to relocate to a more rural area.
About 12 years ago Margaret and I were hiking a trail here on a snowy winter day and the whole herd – at least 50 or more pronghorns – crossed the trail just about 50 yards ahead of us. It was a beautiful sight.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I’m sorry you’re about to lose yours, Everett. That rush to “develop” won’t end until there’s nothing left and that really pisses me off.
The fawn is “cute” – word fits! 🙂 Tho a “string bean” it’s rump certainly is well muscled and suited to the task at hand! Thinking about it even when antelope are around in spring we really don’t see the fawns very early. White tail fawns we darn near step on occasionally and had to be careful in the field for early work so as not to run over them. Mom’s of all are VERY careful and protective…….
Judy, the ones I see always seem to be “string beans” but believe me they’re wiry and tough. I once released one about this age from barbed wire and it had plenty of strength and defensive instincts at that age. That little fart actually kicked me just before it ran off (see link below).
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2016/07/07/a-pronghorn-fawn-and-a-near-disaster-with-barbed-wire/
A Fish & Game friend once commented they are like “goats” and hard to deal with even tho deer fawns usually don’t get too riley when little……..