Found a fawn? Leave it alone, wildlife officials say

Fluvanna Review Staff

As fawn season continues across Virginia, state wildlife officials are reminding residents that the best way to help a young deer is usually to do nothing.

White-tailed deer fawns are born from May through July, and it is common to find them curled up alone in yards, gardens, fields, or along wooded areas. 

While the sight can be alarming, the fawn has usually not been abandoned.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says female deer intentionally leave their fawns alone for long periods to avoid drawing predators to them. A fawn’s spotted coat helps it blend into grass and brush, and very young fawns often stay still rather than run when people approach.

The doe generally returns several times a day to feed or move the fawn, but she may only stay for a few minutes. That means people are unlikely to see her, even if she is nearby.

Residents who find a fawn should keep children and pets away, avoid touching it, and leave the area. The old instinct to “rescue” a baby animal can do more harm than good.

If someone has already moved a fawn and less than 24 hours have passed, DWR says the animal should be returned to the exact place where it was found. The person should then leave immediately and not wait nearby for the doe to return.

If a fawn appears injured or is clearly orphaned, residents should not try to care for it themselves. 

DWR advises calling the agency’s wildlife conflict helpline at 1-855-571-9003, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or contacting a permitted wildlife rehabilitator through the DWR website.

Only permitted wildlife rehabilitators are legally allowed to raise a fawn in captivity. Keeping a deer or other wild animal as a pet is illegal in Virginia.

State wildlife officials also warn that deer raised by people can become dangerous. A deer that loses its natural fear of humans may become aggressive as it grows, especially when it seeks food or attention.

DWR says the best chance for a healthy fawn is to stay where its mother left it.

In other words: If the fawn is quiet, still, and tucked into cover, nature is probably working exactly as designed. Admire it from a distance, keep the dog inside, and let the doe do her job.