•Biologist says kindest thing is to leave baby deer alone

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

If you see a spotted fawn, leave it alone.

State biologists have had fewer calls than normal this year regarding supposedly abandoned fawns, but too many people still try to help animals that aren’t necessarily abandoned.

“People don’t always understand the fawning process,” said Evin Stanford, deer biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “They mean well, but they’re often putting the fawn at more risk by touching it or constantly checking on it.”

Whitetail deer are nearing the end of the birthing season in Southeastern North Carolina, but spotted fawns are still being seen by people walking in wooded areas, as well as farmers.

Made to hide

Fawns have no scent when they are young, and their spotted coats help them blend into surrounding brush. Does stay away from the young for periods of time to avoid drawing attention to the young, Stanford said. Does will sometimes watch from a short distance away to make sure no predators have found a hidden fawn.

Just because a fawn is alone, Stanford said, doesn’t mean it has been abandoned.

“Does hide their young while they go to forage,” Stanford explained. “Sometimes a doe with twins will bed the young down in separate places.”

Younger fawns often don’t run or show alarm when found by a human. That leads people to think the animal is sick, hurt or in need of care, Stanford said.

People find the fawns and since they’re very passive, they think something is wrong with the fawn. They can usually keep up with the mother within a few days.”

“It’s rare to find a truly lost fawn,” Stanford said. “If you find one standing beside a road-killed doe, that’s one thing. But most times, the mother will be back.”

Difficult care

Fawns have very specific nutritional requirements that can’t be met in the normal household, Stanford explained.

“You can’t just feed them milk from the grocery store,” he said. Fawns often die when in the care of well-meaning humans, or else end up in the hands of trained rehabilitators.
If the fawn survives, Stanford said, there are other complications.

“Releasing the young deer in a new environment may introduce diseases to that area’s herd,” Stanford explained. “You can run into population problems by bringing another deer into an over-populated area.”

Local deer herds have stabilized after problems with over-population in recent years, Stanford said. Meanwhile more vehicles on highways and more people moving into rural areas increase the chances of finding a baby deer.

“The best thing to do is leave the fawn alone,” Stanford emphasized. “Leave the area. If it’s being attacked by dogs, that’s different. Then you can intervene.”

If you find a fawn and there is no evidence of a dead or wounded doe in the area, Stanford said, quietly leave the area. Wait at least until the next day to return if you feel you must check on the fawn, he said.

“If it’s bleating, then there might be a problem,” he said. “If the fawn is still there after a day or two, you should contact the commission to get in touch with a licensed rehabilitator. You should never try to raise a fawn yourself.”

Saving one fawn makes little difference in nature, Stanford said.

“A lot of people see them as cute and cuddly,” he said, “and they want to help. It makes them feel better, and it’s not a bad thing to save a fawn – it’s just not usually needed.”