{"id":9089,"date":"2021-06-29T11:43:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T11:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9089"},"modified":"2023-11-28T14:29:26","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T19:29:26","slug":"how-can-you-tell-if-a-deer-is-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-can-you-tell-if-a-deer-is-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can You Tell If A Deer Is Pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Those of us who live in areas with a lot of deer<\/a> are used to seeing them around. But spotting a pregnant deer can be tricky. To determine whether a doe is pregnant, some background knowledge on the breeding season is helpful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Do Deer Get Pregnant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Deer reproductive cycles mostly depend on the climate. Natural selection has refined the breeding process to ensure that fawns are born in optimal conditions for survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In northern areas of the U.S., for example, the breeding season<\/a> runs from October to January. In the southern states, deer wait until January or February to mate. Most female deer begin to breed when they are at least 1 \u00bd years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

White-tailed does are polyestrous. This means that they usually go into heat multiple times during the breeding season. They are also known as short-day breeders, meaning that they begin to breed in the fall when the days are shorter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bulk of does go into heat beginning in November, and each heat period lasts for 24 hours. If a doe doesn\u2019t conceive during that time frame, their cycle begins again and they go into heat around 28 days later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Do Deer Stay Pregnant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The length of pregnancy depends on the species of deer, but most deer pregnancies last from 180-200 days. White-tailed deer, the most common deer in the U.S., are pregnant for right around 200 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature times the breeding time and gestation period perfectly to protect vulnerable fawns and support new moms. Since does mostly leave their fawns alone for the first couple of weeks of life, they need good spots to conceal their young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the foliage returns in the spring, there\u2019s enough green coverage for fawns to lie undetected until their moms return. The white spots on fawns are also great for camouflage, as they resemble dappled forest sunlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason for spring births is the nutrients that are available to the doe at that time of year. A new mom needs lots of extra nutritious plants and vegetation so that she can adequately nurse her baby and nurture her body.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Tell if a Doe is Pregnant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It can be difficult to tell when a deer is pregnant until she\u2019s farther along. Usually, they won\u2019t start showing until they are well into the third trimester of pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can assume a doe is pregnant when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n