by Beth Burns

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 13, 2011

A particularly heart tugging sight is a fawn all by itself in the big woods. The fawn is so cute and you want to help. The fawn is weak and small and appears to be completely helpless. One's natural reaction is to visualize Bambi lost without his mother...when a fawn cries out it really CAN rattle you and create a maternal response.

The mother deer has NOT heartlessly left its young. Leaving the fawn behind, hidden away in the tall grasses is actually the natural defense of the deer. At this early stage the fawn is not strong enough to follow mom, and the safest thing for the fawn to do is lay still and hidden so that it does not attract attention from predators as the doe goes to seek out food. It is normal fawn behavior to lie still and quiet and wait for the mother to come back for it. They can lie in the same place for long periods of time while mom is off feeding itself and sometimes siblings. The mother only comes around 2 or 3 times a day to feed it...otherwise staying out of sight to keep predators away.

Fawns, as well as other animals, CANNOT digest cow's milk, if fed this they will often develop diarrhea which will cause dehydration and can be life threatening. It is critical that the fawn receive nourishment from its mother in those first days. They MUST get Colostrum from its mother to develop natural immunities and enzymes that help fight diseases and bacteria. This can only come from the mother and is why it is so important to call your local licensed wildlife rehabilitator BEFORE interfering!

In general, the best thing for a wild animal is to remain in the wild. Mother always knows best, and the baby's best chance at a good life is to stay with its mother.

Sometimes, something actually does happen to the mother. The doe may have been hit by a car or poached. The best thing to do is observe the area around the fawn and call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice. Tell the rehabilitator everything you have seen and heard and how long you have been observing. It is important that you first call, BEFORE touching or removing the fawn from where it is, so that you will know what the best course of action actually is. If neighbors have come out and have surrounded the fawn, ask them to go back inside and leave the fawn alone, so that you can see if the mother does return. Generally, if a fawn has been crying and wandering for more than 4 hours, something is wrong.

In May and June, the Northwoods Wildlife Center (in Northern Wisconsin) receives

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