Fawns in Rehab
Baby whitetail deer (ODVI), known as fawns, are a common baby species we see in rehabilitation during the summer months. More often than we would like, these babies don’t actually need our help. In the summer of 2021, the MWRC received 55 fawns. The year before, 31 fawns were admitted. A running joke students have at the MWRC is that each summer season is “the year of ___”. My summer year was the year of the fawn.
Does this baby need help?
These babies come in uninjured, with the story that “it was all alone and just laying there.” While intentions are often good, this behavior is normal for the ODVI. The mom will leave the baby laying in a safe place, unattended, while she stays close by, often not seen near the fawn. People usually interpret the absence of the mom as a sign that the baby has been abandoned, when this is actually a tactic to keep the baby safe. By leaving it alone, the mom is keeping attention away from the fawn. She will visit only a few times during the day to feed. Because ODVI are maiy nocturnal and crepuscular, mom will spend more time with the fawn after dusk.
A Baby in Need
However, there are cases when these fawns do need the help of a rehabilitator. There may be cases of a predator attack, possibly mom was hit by a car, or the fawn was hit by a car, etc. There are some key signs that something is wrong:
Visible signs of injury/blood
Flies circling and maggots
Constant distress calling that lasts an extended period
Curled ears
Staying in one place for 24+ hours
When dealing with fawns, we try our best to get as much information on the phone as possible to avoid accidental kidnapping. Once a fawn is in rehab, it will be taken care of until it is able to survive on its own. This can take months to accomplish. For the person rehabbing it, it means special caging, frequent feedings, understanding their stress levels, managing injuries, and much more. In NC, whitetail deer are in their own category of rehab. A special license is needed due to their caging requirements and high stress levels.
Once a fawn has been sent to a fawn rehabber, they undergo a “soft release” process, which is also common for squirrels. During this process, the patient is gradually weaned off feedings and moved into larger spaces(from in a barn, to a paddock with outdoor space, to a pasture, to free-roaming with access to food after “release”. It isn’t uncommon for a fawn rehabber to see deer that they released years ago. The intensity of their rehab process plays a big factor in why rehabbers preach to leave them alone. If you aver think a fawn is in trouble, please contact someone before handling it.
