This local white-tailed deer family was eating tansy for breakfast at the edge of our meadow when they sensed me. Only Mom immediately found where I was, as you see. Fawns learn by experience and these twins will get better sensing danger by watching Mom.
There were some curiosities in this moment. Eating tansy is unusual for white-tails; I don’t remember ever seeing them munching that highly-scented, oily plant:
Note also that one twin is significantly larger than the other. It could be that the larger twin is a male and the other a (usually smaller) female. It also could be that the twins had different fathers at different times. (Up to about 25% of white-tail twins reportedly are sired by different bucks at slightly different times.)
Nonetheless, it’s a good-looking family, even if the kids are encouraged to eat tansy for breakfast. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on August 11, 2026.)