Ask The Biologist

Early Birds

Early Birds

By Bob Humphrey

Although not common, it is normal to find a scrape outside of the fall.

QUESTION: I have seen scrapes as early as late July. It was in same site as where a buck had made a scrape the year before. Would you say he or another deer cleaned out last year’s scrape? — Steve B.

ANSWER: I would. While deer don’t necessarily make scrapes all year, they use the overhanging licking branch at all times, most likely as a means of scent communication. It’s not uncommon to find scrapes in the spring, and I suspect that’s because the amount of daylight is the same as it is in fall, when more serious scraping takes place. However, it is possible that a deer would make a scrape any time.

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