We get an alarming number of calls this time of year with variations of this story: “I found a baby deer by itself. I went to the feed store and got all the stuff to take care of it. It’s been living in my house for two weeks. Now it’s weak. I think it’s dying.Continue reading “Raising a Fawn Can Go Terribly Wrong”
Tag Archives: fawns
Five Signs a Fawn Needs Help
It’s baby season, so we’ll be focusing our posts over the next few days on identifying babies that are truly orphaned and in need of help! Some of the most common kidnapping victims are fawns. Their mothers leave them alone for long periods of time, so well-meaning people often mistake them for orphans. It’s usuallyContinue reading “Five Signs a Fawn Needs Help”
Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon
Babies like this are often kidnapped by well-meaning people who mistake them for orphans, but this baby doesn’t need help. Mother deer will often leave their babies alone for up to several hours a day, often hidden in underbrush, tall grass, or leaves. The fawn knows to lie down and be very still, to avoidContinue reading “Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon”
Melanistic (Black) Deer
This gorgeous buck was born with a mutation that causes melanism. Animals with this trait are extremely dark in color and lack all the characteristic shades of white and brown typically seem in white-tailed deer. Black deer can be seen in any part of the country, but, for reasons not fully understood by scientists, theyContinue reading “Melanistic (Black) Deer”
I Found a Fawn! What now?
Babies like this are often kidnapped by well-meaning people who mistake them for orphans, but this baby doesn’t need help. Mother deer will often leave their babies alone for up to several hours a day, often hidden in underbrush, tall grass, or leaves. The fawn knows to lie down and be very still, to avoidContinue reading “I Found a Fawn! What now?”
Capture Myopathy: The Risks of Picking Up Wildlife
Wild animals— particularly rabbits, fawns, and birds— are prone to a condition called capture myopathy. This is a complex disorder that results from the stress of being chased, captured, or even simply held by a human being. Although there are usually no signs of disease or injury, these animals simply die. Please: never capture orContinue reading “Capture Myopathy: The Risks of Picking Up Wildlife”
Will a Mother Animal Abandon a Handled Baby?
You should never handle a wild animal because it stresses them and can spread disease, but it’s entirely a myth that a mother will abandon her young because of unfamiliar smells. This is not true of any animal species. If you, or a child, already handled a baby animal and it is not hurt orContinue reading “Will a Mother Animal Abandon a Handled Baby?”
