FAWNS:
In the Spring, Does give birth and this is often a time where we see fawns left unattended in sometimes the oddest spots.
First off, don’t panic if you see a fawn without its mother. This is by nature’s intelligent design that they are not together. Mom has a smell which attracts predators while the fawn does not. If mom and her scent are with the fawn often that increases the chance of a predator attack against the fawn, especially if she is out grazing for food or at or near a watering hole.
Mom will have her baby with her in spaces where she feels it is safe for them to be and if she needs to go into an area where she feels there is a threat, she will deposit her baby in a safe space before continuing on.
Those spaces are places where those predators are more apprehensive about being seen. Your yard, fields, deep brush like tall grass or other vegetation, general areas that we consider public areas are ideal for those fawns to be put by their mom. Some does aren’t too strategic and in the past have left their babies right near sidewalks, street signs, and other high traffic areas. She thinks her fawn is best there.
Fawns may be left for a few hours, overnight and in some cases longer. One factor on how long the fawn stays around is human involvement. If mom sees a human (a predator) near her young she is not going to come back for the fawn. Being an herbivore and a “fright and flight” creature (meaning she will run instead of fight by nature) she will stay in the woods until the coast is clear to pick up her young one.
The first 4-6 weeks of life the fawns are often left unattended. Mom will come back to nurse if she feels it is safe to do so every few hours. After that 6 week period they are more with their mom because they have a better shot of outrunning a predator.
One thing to remember are fawns really do look and act like Bambi. MA Wildlife stresses that a fawn that is not standing, looks gangly, thin or skinny are all normal signs of a fawn that we do not intervene in. Fawns may also follow you but that still does not warrant human intervention.
MA Wildlife suggests the following:
Stay back at least 500 feet. If you find a fawn in a precarious place it’s likely it walked off from where it was left. In those instances the fawn may be placed into a thicker brush area right in the direct vicinity per MA Wildlife. It is important that the person moving the animal vacate the area immediately as the fawn may try to imprint from human contact and follow the person. For example, fawns may be moved if they are laying on sidewalks, roadways, somewhere that will draw a crowd and there is an increased risk that mom will not come back or that the fawn may be injured by traffic, etc. Moving the fawn because it is in a safe place in your backyard and you want to let your dog out is not a satisfactory reason to risk moving the animal and the potential human imprinting. The solution for a situation like this is leash walk your dog elsewhere until mom comes back later to grab her baby.
Fawns make noise. They bleat from being frightened or trying to find its mother. Letting the young one vocalize without our interference will help mom to pinpoint where her fawn is at in case the fawn had walked off to another yard and she is looking to reunite.
If you suspect that the animal is injured or orphaned (i.e. bleeding , flies are swarming, mom hasn’t returned in a day or so, or there is a confirmed lactating doe deceased in the area) please contact MA Wildlife. They ask that you contact them at (508) 389 6300 during normal business hours and after normal business hours the Environmental Police at (800) 632 8075.
Let’s help these little ones get the best shot at growing up by knowing when we should and shouldn’t intervene. Please make a point that if you see anyone interfering in a way that is detrimental to the fawn please contact your local authorities so that they may talk with the individuals and explain why they need to leave the young one alone.
Thank you all for being great stewards towards animals and participating in their successes. You’ll likely be rewarded in the future with the visual of the animals passing by throughout their lives. You may also find that if you leave them alone one year, mom may think you’re the best place ever and come back again next year with her next youngster.
Under MA Law it is illegal for the public to possess white tailed deer and wildlife rehabilitators need permission from MA Wildlife first to take in deer.