Fawn Mortality In Juvenile Deer

Evidence shows that mortality in juvenile deer in North America is extensive (Cook et al., 1971). In summers of 1965 & 1966 a study on Welder Refuge in south Texas was conducted and its objectives were, “how soon after birth were fawns dying”; and “what role disease & predation played in these parts”. A study in 1960 of 400+ fawns was also conducted. (White,1966) concluded that the fawn mortality on the Refuge occurs in the first few weeks of its life and respectively, they were both approximately the same, the study done in 1960, lost 70 percent and the study done in 1965, lost 72 percent of the fawns. Fawn mortality rate in the Midwest is less than those states in the south for example, Texas. Nutrition and disease mortalities were few,