Up North Progressive

Part of the beauty of Morel hunting in northern Michigan is the opportunity to enjoy the woods in spring. Usually this means looking at spring flowers, plants, trees budding and perhaps the glimpse of an animal. Usually humans make enough noise to warn wildlife it’s time to disappear.

Such was the case with this little fawn. Hiding behind a downed tree and laying still. This is an amazing sight every time it happens, and the best thing to do is consider yourself very lucky and move away. Mom’s out of sight and watching.

But as rare as it is to see a newborn fawn in the woods, something even more rare can happen, like as soon as you turn around, a twin sibling appears, and they think you are mom.

This little baby is still wobbling on his legs, so not very old at all.

This is not a good thing, because the fawn is still young enough to think everything bigger that moves close to them in the woods is mom.

Sooooo cute. But standing still because you can’t believe this is really happening seems to encourage the fawn to move even closer. Close enough to sniff your foot and realize you’re not mom.

The fawn knows he has made a mistake, and this automatically triggers the baby deer alarm system.

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

You jump in shock from something so small making noise that loud. This also informs the Morel hunting companion 20 yards away that you’re having a close encounter with a newborn fawn.

The fawn has had enough. He goes back to his hiding spot and you get out of there as fast as you can

And find some nice, big white Morels.

The rule in this situation is never touch newborn fawns found in the woods, enjoy the rare sight and move away quickly. Unless you get ambushed by their twin.