If you find a fawn (young deer): Leave it there if you care...
FWC photo of fawn.
White-tailed deer fawning is in full swing in the Florida Panhandle and other areas of Florida. Sometimes people find a fawn that appears to be alone, and they assume it has been abandoned and they may try to rescue it. However, instead of trying to rescue a fawn, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) advises that you leave it alone, because during the first few weeks of a fawn’s (young deer's) life, a doe (female deer) will hide her offspring, then move to a safe distance away from it to prevent her scent from attracting predators to the young animal’s hiding spot. However, the doe returns often to the fawn, to nurse and care for it. While hidden, the baby deer might lie motionless as a survival mechanism, in order to deter prey. Bystanders may mistakenly think that a fawn’s lack of movement means that it’s sick or injured, which often prompts them to remove the animal, to obtain help for it.
If you find a fawn that you think is abandoned, DO NOT touch it, pick it up or remove it from its natural environment. Instead, leave it alone and quietly move away from the area. If you come across a fawn and need direction as to what you should do, you can contact the appropriate FWC Regional Office for assistance. If you live in Florida, find your regional FWC office location and contact information here: myfwc.com/contact/fwc-office/regional-offices.
For information about deer in Florida, visit myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/deer.
Information about what to do if you find what appears to be injured or orphaned wildlife can be found here: myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/injured-orphaned.