FawnsDoes or mothers leave their tiny infants alone for 2-3 hours between feeds. This is to keep their presence hidden from dogs and the like. The Fawn will curl up and lie very still in the long grass and, as they are virtually odourless, they are hard to detect. Apart from dogs and foxes, they are often found by walkers who worry that the helpless little things have been abandoned. There is a lot of debate about whether a fawn should always be left alone and/or about the length of time it should be left before it is safe to assume the mother has abandoned it.
Our belief based on our experience and borne out by the view of The British Deer Society is that fawns are generally fed every two to three hours. Unfortunately, when you discover a fawn, you won’t know how long it has been alone. If the fawn is curled up in the long grass and breathing normally, please leave it alone and leave the area at once. There is a good chance that the mother is nearby and your presence is stopping her from returning to her fawn. If you can, stay out of the immediate area but observe from a sensible distance for no more than 90 minutes before seeking advice from us or another wildlife rescue organisation. If the mother comes back during that time, you will get a real treat seeing her with her baby but if fawns are left too long their digestive system will start to shut down so please do take advice if there is no sign of the mother within that kind of time frame.
Fawns are very rarely abandoned by their mothers so the chances are, mum will return. This 'leave or intervene' debate is a contentious issue but we believe, better a hand reared fawn who has to be slowly reintroduced to the wild than a sad demise for a beautiful creature.
Aside from sleeping fawns, if you see a fawn wandering around calling for mum, it has most likely been left for too long, and needs help. It will also need help if it is lying flat out, is having trouble breathing or showing signs of injuries. Do not hesitate to phone if you would like advice; if possible leave someone close by to keep an eye on it whilst getting help.
AdultsSadly, all too often adult deer are hit on the road or get caught up in fencing or equipment. If you find such a situation, please be very cautious. Deer have very sharp hooves and a tremendous kick and may have antlers at the other end. They are incredibly beautiful and look very fragile but can be highly dangerous when frightened or when they feel threatened. If the trapped animal is quiet, do not approach, seek help as soon as possible, if you get too close it will start to struggle and make things worse. If it’s on the edge of the road and struggling to get up, cover its head with a blanket, jacket, or something, which will calm the animal down. Seek help straight away from ourselves, another rescue organisation or the police who will have the right contacts in an emergency.
Unfortunately, we are unable to go to entanglements or RTA’s as we just don’t have the equipment or manpower to deal with these.
