Circle of life complete. This mom raised several sets of fawns on my property over several years, and I recorded their antics on my trail cameras and in person. On a cold winter day she laid down by a log and went to sleep for her final rest. A successful life avoiding predators and raising young. Nature's reminder of the fragility of life and the grand design of it all. Returning nutrients to the earth that in turn provides life. It's a heck of a thing.
This doe’s final rest was a gift to me, as it was my failure to capture a good photo of the bobcat that claimed her carcass which led me down the road of camera trapping… a pursuit which has resulted in several of my most coveted images.
Announced in August 2024 - This image was awarded as “Highly Commended” in the 60th edition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition by the Natural History Museum, London.