U2W4 Animal Families

Animal Families

Chapter 1 Deer Families People take care of their babies when they are small. Most animals take care of their babies, too. Some animals even live in families. Baby Deer A deer is a mammal just like you. Mammals are not hatched from eggs at birth. Deer mothers can have one to three babies at one time. The babies, or fawns, can walk very soon after they are born. They wobble a little, but they can walk! Deer mothers feed their babies for about two months.

Some enemies of baby deer are bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions. But baby deer have no smell, so their enemies cannot find them. The mother deer hides her babies in bushes. Baby deer also have spots that help them hide in the leaves. The spots go away when the deer grow older. Deer eat fruits, nuts, and leaves.

Young Deer Young deer stay with their mothers for a year or two. After that, they can take care of themselves. Soon they will have their own families. Boy deer, or bucks, begin growing antlers, which take a few months to grow. Girl deer, called does, do not grow antlers.

Deer antlers break off once a year. Then they grow back. As the deer becomes an adult, he usually has bigger antlers. The antlers have more points on them if the deer is healthy. The deer will be healthy if he is able to find enough food and water. Antlers are made from bone.