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While young Buzz (534) and Woody (544) look like they’re joyfully playing on a sunny afternoon, an intricate social process is unfolding. They’re figuring out who’s the dominant buck in the bunch.

These fawns are showcasing a form of non-verbal communication. Woody is rising up on his hind legs and “striking” his front hooves at Buzz. This is a socially aggressive behavior that deer of all ages will exhibit when they’re trying to display dominance. Instead of striking his brother back, Buzz ran away from the threat.

This is an interesting occurrence because Woody and Buzz have full access to necessary resources, so there’s no immediate “need” for dominance to regulate access to limited resources. This shows developing social status is an innate part of a deer’s life. These behaviors will help structure their place in the dominance hierarchy as they enter adulthood and begin participating in rutting behaviors.