One of the best things about living in Denver, Colorado is the nearby wildlife. Despite an ever-growing human population and its encroachment on open space, the critters still have managed to do pretty well.

Certainly there has been a cost to the growth and as a native of this amazing place, it saddens me sometimes. However, there is still very much an openness here that few cities have.

On this morning a couple weeks ago, this handsome fellow stopped to pose with the Mile High City skyline in the background and, of course, those beautiful Rocky Mountains.

What is this? Some kind of moose-deer hybrid? No, not at all.

This handsome fellow’s unusual rack is actually from a genetic characteristic causing a rack that looks like a hand with fingers coming out. I’ve seen this guy quite frequently out at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge but have only gotten this one, decent capture of him.

I would have preferred he didn’t have a mouthful of food but beggars can’t be choosers.

Now this was one handsome fellow! He is bulking up in preparation for the coming rut and his antlers were smooth and gleaming, having just lost the velvet from them. The soft, morning light lit him up nicely as he stopped and gave me some nice looks.

Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado.

Oh my goodness! This darling mule deer fawn was all that and a bag of chips. He / she was just so danged cute and it seemed to know it. I’m not sure what is with the malformed ears but I think that made it all the much more endearing.

Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Back in town after a fantastic weekend in the Colorado high country.

I didn’t take too many pics but did find a few worthy photo subjects. Among them, this good looking young deer I happened across on my hike yesterday morning.

It, its mom and its twin were enjoying the cool weather with a definite chill to it. Its spots are just about all gone as it grows up and gets ready to weather its first winter.

Check out this cute one and those ears! This mule deer fawn and its twin were hanging out with mom at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge yesterday. While mom and its sibling ignored me, this one was all eyes and ears for me. The young ones were quite small so probably no more than a couple of weeks old.

Oh my! Look at this cutie!

I happened across this white-tailed deer fawn and its mom late last week.

While mom didn’t really pay me much attention, the little one was much more shy and wisely kept its distance. It did give me some nice poses including this one. The early morning sun really lit up its eye showing the color in it.

Taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado.

Despite being less than a week old, this white-tailed deer fawn was already quite fleet-footed. It was a pretty impressive display as it raced to catch up with mom last weekend.

When it grows up, it will be capable of speeds up to 30mph and able to leap as high as 10 feet and as far as 30 feet in a single bound!

It is the time of year that the deer does are giving birth to their spotted little ones and I was able to see my first of the season this past weekend.

I almost missed seeing it as I saw the doe but the fawn was up underneath mom, having some breakfast, and quite well hidden. They did eventually step apart and that allowed me to see the cute one although poor light in the thick woods prevented getting the great pics I was hoping for.

Nevertheless, it was very cool to see the fawn that was probably no more than a day or two old.