The story played out so badly, and I was angry and felt guilty, even though it wasn't my fault. Of course, what I should have done is so clear in hindsight, although there is no guarantee it would have changed the outcome.
In the end I wondered how many of you might ever see this in nature, so raw and true and real... and I wanted to share.
If it weren't for my husband's quick thinking, and knowing something about deer, we would never have seen the tiny spotted fawn as it hid there, curled up in the grass waiting patiently for it's mother to return.
It hid well.
It was silent and still as I sat down nearby.
I wanted to wipe the mosquitoes off it's nose, but I dared not touch.
I hoped to get a photo at a really low angle, so I did reach out and flatten some of the grass in the way. It still isn't what I envisioned, but I couldn't have gotten the shot I wanted without completely invading it's space.
I was only a few feet away from the fawn, but it didn't matter that I was there with my camera. The truth is that the predator already knew where it was, even before I arrived.
Still I regret not wiping the mosquitoes off it's beautiful nose.
Linking up with In A Yellow House - "Nature" photo challenge.
15 comments:
What a beautiful photo - does this mean that the fawn was shot?
What happened? What got it?
Regardless... you couldn't have known and it's always best to leave babies be so their mom can come back to get them. Unfortunately, this plan didn't work this time.
Our dumb dog wasn't hungry for three days if that explains things a little better. I should have locked her up the moment we got back home. And because I didn't, I had the pleasure of picking up fawn pieces the next day. Blech.
Oh, Jess, I'm so sorry. It is a beautiful picture though.
It's hard to share bad news on a blog sometimes. I waited almost a month before I could post about our foster dog getting hit by a truck.
:(
I hate that predator/prey cycle sometimes... I want all the babies to live.
I love the picture, though. I love watching fawns - we see them here occasionally.
Oh, Jess... that's horrible. Don't beat yourself up about it. It is kind of the cycle of life thing.
Ummm... your pets seem kind of scary.
The rooster, the cat, the dog... ;)lol
Wow, sad story, amazing and beautiful photo (I don't stand a chance at winning the NATURE contest :-)!
Oh Gosh Jess we understand.
My FIL and son rode up on the mountain to see what was happening, gas drilling. On thier way back down they heard a fawn bleat(?), so they stopped and there it laid, watching them. They came back down to grab Madigan and show her. When they got back up to the spot she was dead...they must have run over her when they heard her cry out....I was sick for days! Madigan said it was OK...she was with Tulsa, our horse. BLeeeK!
Hugs!
Despite the outcome, it is a beautiful picture. That's the thing that I really love about my hubby...we both have a great love for God's creation and we never get tired of looking at it! From mountains and bears to waterfalls and oceans, it never gets tiring. Thanks for sharing!
What a pretty picture. I would have been heartsick, too. and mad at the dog and everything!
What an amazing picture!
The picture is breathtaking....
perfect.
And your dog was just being a dog.
Sorry about having to pick up fawn pieces, though.
I used to raise rabbits, dwarf angoras, so pets.
To make a long story short, I had them outside one day, had to leave suddenly, and the person I asked to put them back did not.
I came home to find MY dog had ripped apart every one of them.
I picked up bunnie parts for weeks.
And actually had to kill one that was skinned, but still alive.
Not a pleasant memory.
But, dogs are dogs. And we are glad when they chase mice, coons and skunks.
Still, it sucks.
so sad....
nature can be heartbreaking at times.
i've had a good time looking around at your blog and reading about your farm life.
so...how did you get your good lens for such a great price?!
:)
have a wonderful day~
I had a little fawn just like that in my garden two years ago. Then it went into the woods by our driveway and waited for its mother. I was so afraid the coyotes would get it. Sorry for what happened for you, dogs are dogs I guess, they can't help it. Going back a few more years, we had a nest of tiny rabbits and our dog got at them and killed all but one. I was mad at him for a long time, but really, you can't blame them for being dogs. And we watched that one rabbit grow and we swear he is the one we still see around, although that dog has since died. The food chain isn't very pretty...
The photo is incredible. I am sorry to hear it didnt turn out well though. Thanks for sharing and linking up this week.
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