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Deer fawns... what to do if you find one
by Kelly Jensen, L.W.R., California
One of the more distressing occurrences at our center this year was the
number of fawns we had delivered to us. It's important for everyone to
realize that deer do not abandon their young. Fawns, like many other wild
animal babies, are frequently hidden and left alone for hours by their
mothers while they forage for food. For the first couple of weeks, these
babies generally nap while waiting for their mothers to return. They lay
very still so as not to attract predators (like well-intentioned human
animals), and are frequently mistaken for being in distress or abandoned.
If roaming about, they may appear to be weak and stumbling, and actually
be newly born. Their mothers are usually within visual range, and can
always hear if their baby cries out. We had fawns brought in with
umbilical cords that were not even dry, and one's ears hadn't unfolded yet.
In addition to being removed unnecessarily from their mother's care, many
people try to care for these dainty creatures themselves. This year, six
of these tiny victims were eventually brought to the Center in real
distress, and died. Milk replacers made for domestic babies like puppies
or kittens, or livestock such as calves or lambs, are completely
unsuitable for a fawn's delicate system and are not even digestible. Very
new babies must have colostrum -- the mother's first milk -- in order to develop
the antibodies in their system that protect against disease and infection.
Let's try to educate those around us to this very real problem. The best
thing you can do if you find a fawn is to:
- Keep an eye on the fawn for as long as possible (or until it's mother
returns), and don't go near it. If the mother thinks you are too close,
she may choose not to return while you're there, so it might be best to
leave for a bit and then check back.
- Please do not attempt to feed it. If you do rescue a truly distressed
fawn, and you can't bring it in immediately, plain water is the best thing
you can offer it. It will be OK for several hours without food.
- If there are real doubts as to it's vulnerability or safety (a dead
doe on a nearby road for example), or if the fawn is visibly hurt or ill,
please call a local wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
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