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How to Care for a Fawn Separated From Its Mother

Finding a young, possibly newborn fawn in the woods or your yard can send several emotions through your mind. Most of the time they are indeed alone, but not necessarily abandoned or orphaned. Mother deer will leave their newborn and young fawns in thickets or other areas for hours on end while they forage. Throughout the day, the mother will come back and nurse the fawn for a few minutes before taking off again, sometimes leading the fawn to a new location. Because of this, it is normally best to leave the fawn alone, checking on it periodically if you must to make sure it is healthy.

Things You'll Need

Telephone
Blanket

Instructions

Caring for a Fawn
- 1
  Check over the fawn for signs of injury, illness or dehydration without touching the deer or getting too close. Petting or handling the young deer can cause it more stress than just your presence and this stress can sometimes lead to death.
- 2
  Move the fawn only if it is in immediate danger and only far enough away to put it out of harm's reach. For example, if it is lying in the middle of the road you would want to move it out of the way of traffic.
- 3
  Assess if the fawn is orphaned by looking for symptoms such as crying or being wet from birth. Also, if the mother is nowhere to be found or has been hit by a vehicle and the fawn is standing on or near the road alone.
- 4
  Call a game warden, animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator and tell them about the orphaned fawn.
- 5
  Keep watch over the young fawn while waiting for the wildlife rehabilitator or other professional to arrive.

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