Fawns are playful creatures, and in the early morning this pair frolics before the day heats up.
Nearby, in the tall grass, a doe gently licks her youngster.
There is an uncanny bond between doe and fawn, and while the curious little rascal searches the ground for something interesting, his mother gives him a thorough cleaning.
Most South Texas fawns are born in early July, give or take a couple of weeks, and for the first few days they are very vulnerable to predators.
However, after a week or so they can scamper away from most.
Mothers keep a watchful eye on their fawns, but they can't take them everywhere, especially when they are very young.
As this doe wanders off for a mid morning drink, she leaves her twins behind, hidden in the grass beneath a gnarled mesquite.
Twins are the norm in whitetail deer, and that's important, because less than half those born will reach their first year.
Poor range conditions and opportunistic predators like the coyote take a heavy toll on young deer.
This pair awaiting their mother beneath the mesquite is about a month old, and with each passing day they are less apt to be surprised by a predator.
They are careful to lay facing opposite directions to detect any approaching danger.
While they are now able to outrun most predators, they continue to use camouflage as their best defense and remain motionless.
Peering thru the grass with glistening dark eyes, they are poised to flee in a flash if threatened.
Their chances of survival are enhanced, as they share an extra set of senses, and one of them always seems to be on watch.
With your Nature Report I'm Richard Moore
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT