Every year around this time, wildlife officials start hearing from concerned people about abandoned fawns, or some other newborn wildlife that they’ve found. They always have questions about what they should do, and the answer is unceasingly the same.
The animal isn’t abandoned — leave it alone, right where you found it, and get out of the area quickly.
There are numerous instances when animals are orphaned by either an accident or some other unforeseen situation in the wild. Those animals, if lucky, are found quickly enough to be raised by wildlife rehabilitators, as was the case with the bear cub whose mother and siblings were recently lost in an unfortunate car accident on Rt. 2. In that case the little bruin, now called Alma, was lucky, and is being cared for in a bear recovery center in New England, on her way, we trust, to recovery and possibly being released back to the wild in around a year or so. A happy story with a happy ending.
But not all stories end happily, especially with various regional reports of fawns being found that were likely born in late May or early June. If you should happen upon one, please leave it alone. The fawn may seem motionless and vulnerable, but this is normal behavior for them. Even if you see one alone for several days, you should still never approach it. The mother is probably feeding or bedded nearby. A doe will visit their fawns very infrequently, which helps predators from finding the babies. It’s not uncommon for fawns to be left alone for 6-8 hours at a time, and young fawns are usually quite safe when left alone because their color pattern and lack of scent help them remain almost invisible. Many times, people with good intentions try to help a fawn, or other wild baby animal. But it’s really unnecessary to do this. In most cases, the mother will always return to nurse the fawn, even after it has been handled by humans. The right thing to do, which can be hard to accept, is to just leave it alone.
But how do we know what to look for, how do we know when a fawn is really in trouble, and how do we understand and identify when our help is needed? Mass Wildlife has compiled some great guidelines to help people understand what to do when finding young wildlife that appear to be injured or abandoned. Below are some guidelines specific to newborn fawns…simple tips that can help you decide when action is needed.
If you happen upon a fawn that seems still and unresponsive, remember that fawns view humans as predators and will drop their head and freeze to avoid detection. If the fawn begins to cry or “bleat” loudly, they are vocalizing to mama, trying to locate her so she will come and help them. Remember, young fawns learn everything from their mothers. Fawns are often bedded in brushy areas, vegetative cover, and grassy spaces – even in suburbia, close to homes or nearby roadways. If you find a fawn close by, remember that they’re here because mother felt this was a safe place for them. However, if a fawn happens to wander into dangerous areas or places where the mother may not feel comfortable going (like a road, a busy yard, into a garage, etc.), and you decide to intervene by moving the fawn to a nearby forested area with thick cover and safety, leave quickly after doing this, as you want the mother to get back to the fawn quickly, which she will not do if you are nearby.
Young fawns remain bedded and alone for most of the day and night. The mother will return several times to nurse briefly, but she will not approach if people are nearby. And should you find a fawn that is dehydrated or badly injured, you should immediately call for help. But remember, if a fawn looks skinny and weak, all fawns naturally look this way in the early stages of their lives, it’s not necessarily an indication that they are abandoned or starving. This is normal for young fawns, and we will do more harm than good if we attempt to care for or feed them — it’s something we should NEVER do.
While most people’s intentions are good, jumping in to assist a wild animal is seldom successful, as we simply cannot give them the care they need to survive. So please, despite your best intentions, don’t even try. Just call MassWildlife at 508-389-6300 if you find a baby wild animal visibly injured or dehydrated. It’s really the best thing to do.
Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff.