SAVE WILD BLOG

Picture: A healthy fawn hiding in behind a shrub. The mother returned to this fawn 4 hours later.

May 24, 2023

It is that time of the year again…

… the season of young animals! In late spring and early summer months it is not uncommon to find fawns hiding alone in and around your yard. Though you may be alarmed that its mother is nowhere to be seen, this is normal behavior and usually no cause for concern.

While adult white-tailed deer carry a scent, fawns are born with no identifiable scent. For survival purposes, mothers will leave their fawns behind shrubs, in tall grasses, or brush for hours at a time while she feeds a short distance away.

Despite this vulnerability, fawns have many features that protect them from predation. In addition to a lack of scent, fawns will remain still and quiet in the location their mother left them.

A fawn’s bright white spots also help them to camouflage into their natural surroundings.

In some rare circumstances, you may encounter a fawn that is abandoned and in need of help.

Signs of a fawn in distress include: crying and wandering around an area for an extended period of time, laying on its side with its legs stretched out, attracting flies, having noticeable injuries, and finding a fawn near a deceased adult deer. In these circumstances, it is appropriate to contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you find a fawn alone and not displaying signs of distress- leave it where it is. Moving or kidnapping a healthy and cared-for fawn does it more harm than good. As a protected species, it is also illegal to “rescue” or keep white-tailed deer as pets.

If you notice a fawn in distress or are unsure whether it is abandoned, please contact us at (609) 303-0552 for further assistance.