Have you ever come upon a fawn, or pair of fawns, curled up and motionless without any sign of an adult doe around?
Before assuming fawns are orphaned, consider the following:
White-tailed deer give birth to fawns in April, May, and sometimes into June. Newborn fawns will be hidden away while the doe is out feeding. Fawns will lie quietly, often not moving to avoid attracting predators. A doe will only return to feed her fawns every 4-5 hours. Sometimes, the doe will move them to a new location during the cover of twilight. After a few weeks, the fawns will be strong enough to accompany the mother, and agile enough, to outrun most predators.
If you find a fawn alone and quiet but alert, it’s likely healthy and being cared for. If you’re concerned about the fawn’s wellbeing, observe from a distance over a period of hours, keeping children and pets away. Avoid repeated visitation - adult does may not approach if people are close by. If someone has unfortunately already handled a fawn, quickly return the fawn to the exact spot where it was found and leave the area; the adult doe will return in search of her fawn once the area is safe.
If you do encounter a fawn that is obviously injured or orphaned, call a Wildlife Rehabilitator for advice and help. They are the only people legally allowed to receive and treat distressed wildlife. They have the experience, expertise, and facilities to successfully treat and release wild animals back into the wild, where they belong.
