BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — As fawn season begins, local wildlife officials in the Big Country are warning against the common occurrence of fawn naps if you encounter a lone fawn in the wild.
With fawn season beginning in mid-May, many baby whitetail deer appear to have been “abandoned” in the wild, leading concerned residents to round them up. Wendy Logan, from the Heartstrings Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, stressed that despite good intentions, this action could harm the animals.
“Fawns are left alone for the first few weeks of their lives. They have no smell. So she [the mother] I think it would be safer to put them with people, safe from predators,” Logan said. “People often come across these animals and think they are orphans, but that is not the case.”
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When fawns are left alone without their mother, it may seem like the baby deer is helpless, but that is not the case. Logan told KTAB/KRBC there are signs to look for if a fawn needs human intervention.
“First and foremost a sign is the curling of the ears. If the ears are curled, that is a number one sign of severe dehydration that requires us to intervene,” Logan explains. “Another way to tell if an animal is orphaned is if there is a presumed dead mother nearby, or if the animal is injured and needs to come into our care.”
When you see a fawn, it is best to analyze the situation as best you can and avoid human interaction as much as possible. Taylor County Game Warden James Cummings added that touching these animals can also harm people.
“You have to be careful that there are ticks around this time of year, so you don’t want to get tick disease because you touched a fawn or shot a mother or a fawn or something like that,” Cummings said. . “The most important thing is that you just leave the fawns alone. Do not take this mother’s child and let her raise it in nature, where it is best.”
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When you encounter wildlife that may need help, it is best to call the local game warden or wildlife rehabilitation center to ensure that the best possible initiative is taken.
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