Changes in 24‐hour activity patterns with growth of white‐tailed deer fawns(Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract

Abstract The activity and behavior of captive white‐tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) were monitored throughout 24‐h periods between birth and weaning at 92 d old (from 2.9 to 25.4 kg body weight). Behaviors were observed concurrently with the continuously telemetered record of time spent in the inactive (lying‐resting and lying‐ruminating) and the active behavioral state (standing, foraging, walking, playing, and running activities). Both the time allocations to lying and nonlying activities and their temporal distributions between diurnal and nocturnal phases are related to growth of the fawns. Fawns had a strong concealment discipline in the first week of life, as nonlying activities occupied less than 10% of the diel period. By 8 wk of age (heavier than 15 kg), 26% of the diel period was spent in nonlying activity. Most of the time‐in‐activity of young fawns was spent standing until fawns grew heavier than 7 kg, thereafter standing activity decreased rapidly as foraging occupied about 80% of ...