Within meters of where I saw the white-tailed deer with antler buds early in May, I saw possibly-the-same buck this morning. It is now summer, so its antlers have grown but they are still covered with the hairy skin known as velvet. The velvet will be shed early in the fall.
Posing for a portrait
I don’t think it’s the same buck. The pattern of black and white around its nose is different, unless that sort of things changes. Does it?
Heather, and therein lies the question: what were the pelage changes in the last few months?
It doesn’t change in other animals, such as dogs, cats, cattle (animals with which I have more experience.) Would it change in these? I’m sure I’ve heard of people who can recognize wild animals and if the patterns in their fur changed, they wouldn’t be able to. (Too many ‘changes’ in the sentences above….alterations, differences, modifications.) Do you know the answer?