Walking through the Park a few days ago, I noticed a slight movement just off the trail. There, buried in the undergrowth, was a tiny fawn. It couldn’t have more than a few weeks old. I looked around and didn’t notice any other deer around, so, do you know what I did?

Nothing.

Young deer have their spots for a reason. The spots mimic the dappled sunlight that travels through the trees and acts as camouflage. And mother deer know that predators see a fawn as an easy target. An adult deer has a strong scent, while a fawn does not. A predator may follow the scent of a doe and decide that the fawn is a quicker meal. Large predators also target the weakest prey – the very young, very old, and the injured and sick – first.

A doe will give birth in the Spring and early Summer, and almost from day one, will find a secretive spot for her fawn. Then she’ll leave to forage for food. She’ll return several times a day to either feed or move her offspring, but only stays a few moments before heading back out into the woods.

If you see a fawn in the Park, it’s most likely not an orphan. It’s just waiting for its momma to come back.

So, when we saw the fawn, we lingered quietly for a few moments to revel in nature’s beauty, and then slowly and quietly moved along.

That’s a good rule of thumb for any wildlife you see in the Park. We’re fortunate that we can see all sorts of wild animals so close to an urban environment. In addition to deer, we have coyotes, foxes, river otters, racoons and ‘possums, and more squirrels and chipmunks than you could count.

A few weeks ago, Virginia wildlife officials trapped and relocated a young black bear in Oregon Hill – just a few blocks from the Park. The officials and state biologists said that the young bear had probably spent a few weeks lurking about in the Park and came into Oregon Hill because it was hungry and was lured by the smell of trash.

It’s amazing what you can see in the Park if you’re just quiet and still for a few moments. If you see a wild animal, it has already seen you. It’s going to take a moment to determine if you’re a threat, and then either flee or continue about their day. If you stop and remain quiet, it may determine that you post no threat and simply continue doing wild animal things. In return, you’ll get to see an amazing animal in its natural habitat.

It’s yet another incredible benefit in the Park. Take advantage of it.