Oh deer! Don't touch fawns

They are cute, fuzzy and may look like they need saving – but touching Bambi is a bad idea.

It’s that time of year again where residents are spotting wildlife in their communities. However, the BC SPCA is reminding people that if you find a baby deer, and think it is an orphan, leave it alone.

If the fawn is lying quietly and appears uninjured, the BC SPCA wants residents to know that is a normal occurrence, as a mother deer does leave her baby alone for periods of time.

As the urban deer population grows, human-deer conflicts become more concerning. Coming in contact with a fawn could cause issues for a nearby mother.

The non-profit says 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 (crying out) or attempting to follow people, it may be orphaned. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible, if the fawn is believed to be orphaned.

“Don’t touch the fawn. If you have already handled it, find a towel, rub it in the grass, and wipe the fawn down to remove your scent,” stated an BC SPCA release.

Don’t move the fawn, unless it is in a dangerous location such as the side of the road. If you have moved the deer put it back.

Always keep pets away from the wildlife.

The charity explained mother deer leave their fawns alone for long periods to avoid attracting predators, and a mother may only return a few times a day to nurse her young.

“Fawns are unable to follow their mothers for the first two weeks of life,” said the BC SPCA.

The B.C. chapter of the SPCA has been researching the issue of urban deer management. They say although urban deer populations are rarely studied, the perceived or actual overabundance of deer has strained some people's tolerance for deer living in or near towns.

While the BC SPCA opposes culling deer, the non-profit does supports the use of non-lethal measures to address human-deer conflicts, including anti-feeding bylaws and enforcement, road signage and speed enforcement, landscaping changes, and humane deterrents such as motion-activated sprinklers.

For more information about wildlife rehabilitation contact 1-855-622-7722.