Ahhh Cute

Over at Nate’s Place awhile back I mentioned having some baby antelope pics. Here you are.

The Antilocapra americana, meaning "American antelope goat" is a a unique and interesting creature. The young are born without scent. After birth the mother licks the fawn clean and nurses it and walks several hundred yards away so that predators like coyotes won't see them and run them down. Considering that this little guy let me walk right up to him and his legs were slightly wet, I assume he is less than a day old, maybe only a few hours old. Over the next two weeks the mother will nurse the baby and then leave it. As the fawn gains strength and running ability it will be allowed to spend more time near its mother. After 3 or 4 weeks mother and baby will rejoin the herd of mostly does and young bucks. About 60% or so of all antelope births are twins, however today while I was driving down the highway I saw a mother nursing triplets, which is more rare.