This pattern of dispersal and secretive behavior continues through the fawning period in May and June and persists until fall when deer seem to become bolder and more visible. An important consideration as a motorist is that deer seldom travel alone, and seeing one cross the road at a distance should indicate the need for caution because other deer are likely present. In fact, the behavior of individuals in the family group is so tied to the adult doe that others often cross the road in the face of oncoming traffic in an effort to be near the adult leader. Deer like squirrels, raccoons, rabbits and even the coyote, are quite adaptable and seem to thrive in suburbia with its mix of woodlots, old fields, landscaped plants and gardens. Many have lost their fear of people and boldly browse on tulips, broccoli, hedgerows and ornamental shrubs.
Deer quickly learn which areas have dogs and children and adjust their feeding schedule accordingly.
Deer are capable of learning, and it is this particular characteristic of their behavior that is useful for applying some of the damage prevention techniques suggested later. Trees and shrubs with stem diameters of about 6 inches or less are at risk from September through November. Special precautions should be taken to protect valuable, rare, or otherwise unique woody shrubs and trees. A buck marking his territory and rubbing the remaining velvet from his antlers chooses a sapling or shrub based upon its size, shape and location rather than its nutritive value or palatability.