Every summer in
Alabama, usually around July and August, white-tailed deer give birth to
fawns. Occasionally, these fawns are discovered by humans outside working
on their property, hiking, camping, sightseeing, or bird watching. Most
people are ex-cited to find a fawn, and it is an amazing sight. Many times,
the fawn’s mother (called a doe) is not in the immediate area, and
people assume that the fawn is abandoned, orphaned, or lost. Frequently,
their good intentions lead them to pick up the fawn and carry it home.
However, this is not the right thing to do.
Fawns and Does
Unlike humans,
white-tailed deer mothers don’t spend much time with their fawns for the
first few weeks after giving birth. In fact, a doe will only visit her fawn
about four to six times a day and for only about 15 to 30 minutes per visit
to nurse the fawn. It’s more common for the doe not to be with the fawn
during this period. This is normal, natural white-tailed deer behavior that
increases the chance of the fawn’s survival.
Why don’t does spend
more time with their fawns? They don’t spend much time with their newborn
fawns because they want to reduce the chance that a predator may find the
fawn. Deer fawns are nearly scentless at birth; however, the doe is not
scentless. She smells like a deer. The more time she spends around the
fawn, the more scent she leaves in the area, and the greater chance a
predator may key in on her scent to find the fawn. Additionally, her
behavior when around the fawn may cue predators that a fawn is in the area.
Although the fawn is capable of walking soon after it’s born (similar to
horses), it is still relatively weak and can’t outrun most predators. It’s
in the fawn’s best interest to hide and remain still until it is developed
enough to outrun predators.
What should I do if I find a fawn?
- Leave
it alone. Do not disturb, distract, or touch the fawn. - Walk
away from the fawn quietly and slowly. - Do
not call a conservation officer. Officers know that fawns are being
born. - Do not take the fawn to an
animal shelter or veterinary clinic.
What if my neighbor picked up a fawn and brought it
home?
- Possession
of live wild animals is illegal. A conservation officer won’t grant
you a permit to keep the fawn. He or she will write you
a ticket for illegal possession and confiscate the fawn. - Immediately
return the fawn to the exact place where it was found. The doe will be
looking for it.
Fawns Raised By
Humans
Aside from it being illegal to possess
wild white-tailed deer fawns, there are many challenges to raising a wild
fawn at home. The chances of success are slim. The fawn has a far better
chance of surviving if it is raised by its mother in the wild.
Additionally, fawns that are raised in captivity and then released into the
wild have relatively low survival rates because they become accustomed to
living around humans and lose some of their natural instincts.
Keeping buck (male) fawns can present additional problems as they become
sexually mature. Mature bucks that are raised in captivity often become
aggressive during the breeding season. This aggression may be turned
towards their human caregivers, frequently resulting in serious bodily
injuries.
Although it may seem like you have to do something to help a fawn, it is
far better for the fawn if you do nothing and leave it where you found it.
Remember, it is illegal to possess wild white-tailed deer fawns.
Myths About
Deer Fawns
Myth: I didn’t see its mother. It must be orphaned or
abandoned.
Fact: The doe is likely somewhere close. As mentioned
earlier, white-tailed deer mothers spend relatively little time with their
fawns during the first few weeks after they are born. The mother knows
exactly where she left her fawn. Research with radio-collared does and
fawns has shown that doe survival is very high during the summer months,
and does rarely abandon their fawns.
Myth: If a human touches a fawn, its mother won’t accept it.
Fact: If a fawn has been handled by a human and has human
scent on it, the doe will still accept the fawn. She just spent 7 months
carrying this fawn. A little human scent won’t make her give it up.
Myth: It is okay to touch the fawn, you just have to leave
it where it is.
Fact: It’s not a good idea to touch fawns or to disturb the
area where you find one. The more time a person spends around a fawn, the
more human scent is left in the area. A clever coyote or domestic dog may
follow your human scent trail and find the fawn at the end of it. It is
best to slowly leave the area and not return.
For more
information, contact Mark Smith, Extension Specialist.
