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After receiving several reports of deer fawns in the Interior, the BC Conservation Officer Service is urging people to leave them alone.
Besides a $345 fine for taking a fawn into your possession, people who think they may be helping may actually cause distress for both the fawn and its mother.
“Every year, well-intentioned people try to ‘rescue’ fawns and other young ungulates mistakenly thought to be orphaned, but these interventions do more harm than good,” says conservation officer Ken Owens.
“However, if humans remove them from their rest spots, they can end up being orphaned.”
Owens explains that animals like deer, moose and elk leave their young in hidden spots for long periods of time while the adult animals graze for food. This is done to avoid attracting predators.
Female animals may only return to their young a few times a day to nurse them.
People are also advised that female deer can be expected to defend her fawns from threats such as nearby humans and pets.
If you see a fawn that you think may be orphaned:
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Leave it Alone - If the fawn is lying quietly and appears uninjured it is normal for a mother deer to leave her fawn alone for long periods of time.
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Remember that the mother deer will be wary of you and is likely watching you, so your presence in the area could discourage her from returning.
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Leave the Area and keep pets away from the site.
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If you think the fawn is not being cared for by its mother, return the next day to check on it. If it is in the exact same spot and bleating, it may be orphaned.
If you are concerned that a fawn is injured or orphaned (i.e., there is evidence the parent is dead), contact the Conservation Officer Service through the (RAPP) line 1-877-952-7277 as it will need prompt attention.
In addition to numerous reports of deer fawns that are thought to be orphaned, the Conservation Officer Service also receives several reports every year of people in possession of live fawns.
These people face fines and charges for unlawful possession of wildlife.
Owens says this is seen a lot in areas like the Okanagan, where people regularly coexist with deer. However, this means deer are also living close to fences, traffic and pets. Fawns may become separated and it can take a while for them to be reunited.
When in doubt, call the RAPP line, notes Owens.
“The Conservation Officer Service is taking a hard stance on these issues because it is a problem that they are trying to eliminate,” adds a release.
“Conservation Officers are reminding people that the best thing they can do to ensure a fawn’s survival is to leave the newborn deer fawns alone and leash up their dogs while out walking.”
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