If You Find A Baby Deer

White-tailed Deer fawns are born April through July, with the majority of births in June. Most first-year does will have one fawn each year, but twins or triplets typically seen thereafter. From birth, the fawns are left alone while their mothers go off to feed. The mothers will stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators to their location. They will return at dusk and dawn to move and/or feed their young. If you find a deer fawn:

Is the fawn injured (bleeding, broken bones, wounds, caught on a fence, etc.)?

• If YES, contact your nearest wildlife veterinarian or rehabilitator for treatment.

• If NO, it is normal for fawns of any age to be left alone all day. Never expect to see the mother come back to the fawn while you are in the area. The mother will return to care for it if you leave it alone [If a fawn is found in a ditch next to a road, it can be moved a short distance to a safer location.] You can check back in 24-48 hours. The mother should have moved the fawn.  Never chase a fawn to capture it.

Exception: if the mother is known to be dead (you have seen the fawn near the body and know it to be the mother), contact a state permitted deer rehabilitator in your area. Orphaned fawns will need to be cared for until they are old enough to be released in early fall.

NOTE: Each animal’s nutritional, housing and handling requirements are very specific and must be met if they have any chance of survival. Raising a wild animal in captivity is illegal unless you have a state permit. For information on how you can become a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, contact the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries [PDF] or your state’s wildlife agency.