Leave deer fawns alone

[Lee Borgersen]

                                    Leave deer fawns alone


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Deer fawns are being born now and the DNR asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up.

Most fawns are born in late May and mid-June and leaving them alone gives them the best chance for survival.

Fawns do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks of life. Instead, fawns remain still to avoid being seen, their white spots serving as camouflage. During these times fawns are learning critical survival skills from their mothers. Bringing fawns into human environments separates them from their mothers – and usually results in sad endings for the animals. Here are some other tips:
•Deer and moose nurse their young at different times during the day, and often leave their young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return.
•Deer normally will not feed or care for their young when people are nearby.
•Deer fawns can lose their natural fear of people, which can be essential to their survival.
•Keep domestic pets indoors, leashed or fenced in. Dogs can kill fawns and other baby animals.