The coyote is only one of several predators that like to prey on Maine’s white-tailed deer. But the doe in this trail camera video belonging to contributor Colin Chase has turned the tables by becoming the aggressor.
The doe has a fawn she is protecting. Her white “flag” — her tail — is high and standing straight up, which is deer language that alerts others in the area to danger. She also is highly alert, analyzing the situation and making a quick decision about how to proceed.
Deer’s ears can rotate to pick up sounds that might be out of place. They hear with their big ears and see with their large eyes very well, not missing even the most subtle of sounds or motions, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. They also have a keen sense of smell.
Fawns are particularly vulnerable to predators like coyotes. The young animals’ legs are not as long as the adults and they can’t make the same high leaps and bounds the adults can. The adults can run and bound up to 40 miles per hour, DIF&W said.
The doe communicates her wishes to her fawns with mews and grunts barely heard, and using facial expressions and body language too.
Although an adult deer would likely try to outrun coyotes, lynx and bobcats, this doe clearly wanted to draw the predators away. She succeeded in what we saw of the confrontation. Besides easy prey for these animals, fawns also can become a meal for black bear, fisher and fox.
