I set out on my almost-daily Radnor Lake hike at about 5:30, on the South Cove Trail. As I ascended the long uphill straightaway — the portion of the SC trail which takes you to the top of the ridge, after the hairpin turn — I ran into a fawn on the trail. It was a lone fawn — no sibling or parent in sight.

The fawn apparently wanted me to get off the trail and go around; however, this was not an option due to potential chigger attack. I alternately slowed and stopped, approaching the fawn gingerly to see how close I could get. The fawn ambled up the trail for around 20 yards with me right behind her, before she decided to go off-trail.

Towards the bottom of the South Cove descent (going away from the Granny White side), there were two more fawns — again with no parent in sight.  The nearest fawn was right on the trail, just like the last on, and about 12 feet ahead of me.

Then I thought to do something I have been meaning to do for a while: I stooped down, started calling the fawn to me as if it were a puppy, and held out my hand as if I had a treat for her.   It almost worked!  The fawn behaved just like a shy puppy: she looked at me (lovingly and longingly?), then used her rear hoof to scratch behind her right ear, wagged her tail a little bit, and clearly considered approaching me.  But she did not.  After a couple more minutes admiring this creature in the silent woods, I pressed on.

This was the first day that I noticed fawns without parents nearby; they are getting old enough — or more accurately, brave enough — to venture out on their own.

There were more interesting deer sightings along the way, bringing the total to eight or so.   Very nice hike!

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