Baby deer, or fawns, have spots as a form of camouflage to help them blend in with their surroundings and avoid detection by predators. The spots are a type of disruptive coloration, which helps break up the outline of the fawn's body and make it harder for predators to spot them.
When fawns are born, they have a reddish-brown coat with white spots, which provides excellent camouflage in wooded areas with dappled light. As the fawn grows, its coat will gradually change to a more uniform brown coloration that better matches its environment.
The spots on a fawn's coat are not just for camouflage, though. They can also play a role in social communication between mother and offspring. Fawns use their spots and scent to help identify and follow their mothers. In addition, the spots may also serve as a visual cue for other deer to recognize the fawn as a young and inexperienced individual in need of protection.