Dragon the white-faced deer. Photo: Deer Tracks Junction
But the white-faced baby deer has somewhat of a sad story: Because of his piebald face, he was rejected by his mother, leaving the owners of Deer Tracks Junction in Cedar Springs, Michigan, to care for the animal.
image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Deer7.jpeg
The 2-week-old deer, who was born at the farm, is named “Dragon,” and has learned to prance and frolic like other young deer at the educational and tourism facility.
Dragon is already getting feisty. Photo: Deer Tracks Junction
Piebald deer, which boast this type of odd coloration, are rare in captivity and extremely rare in the wild.
“Normally they have a black nose,” Hillary Powell, owner of Deer Tracks Junction, told WXMI. “It’s actually a detriment in the wild because if they don’t have shade, their nose is very sensitive to the sun and can get sun burn.”
image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Deer8.jpeg
It’s more of a detriment because they lack the appropriate camouflage to hide from predators.
Dragon risks getting a sun-burned nose. Photo: Deer Tracks Junction
This helps to explain why Dragon’s mother disowned the fawn hours after he was born—because her natural instinct demands that she be able to hide from predators in order to survive.
image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/deer4.jpeg
It might be a few days before Dragon can meet visitors. Photo: Deer Tracks Junction
But Dragon is fortunate to have Powell as his surrogate mother.
Deer Tracks Junction opened to the public on Wednesday, but Powell, who has been feeding Dragon and giving him vitamins, said it might be several days before is ready to be placed on public display.
Read more at http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/rare-white-faced-deer-rejected-by-mom-but-in-loving-hands/#dEVpCXu0uM2jhAxH.99