06/01/2026
It’s that time of year again, we have been getting numerous phone calls about fawns being alone… please do not disturb, the mother will come back.
A mother deer (does) intentionally leave their fawns hidden and completely alone for hours at a time, sometimes for up to (10-12) hours. This is a normal survival tactic to keep them safe from predators.
Why Does This Happen?
Lack of Scent: Newborn fawns have virtually no scent, making them undetectable to predators.
Camouflage: Fawns are born with spotted coats and are programmed to instinctively lie completely still and flat in the grass or brush.
Predator Avoidance: The mother leaves her baby so her own scent—as an adult deer—does not attract predators to the fawn. The Mother Does typically return 2 to 3 times a day, often around dawn and dusk, to quickly nurse and groom their baby. She will then leave the area again.
What You Should Do?
Leave them alone: If you find a fawn, the best thing to do is give it space, leave it where it is, and keep pets and children away.
Do not touch: Handling a fawn stresses it out. While a common myth states a mother will reject a handled fawn, it is still best practice not to disturb them.
When to intervene: Only contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or Animal Control if the fawn is visibly injured, tangled, constantly crying out, or if you find a deceased mother nearby.
