Don't touch baby deer

Photo: Pixabay

Birthing season for deer is almost here and people are being reminded that if they spot a fawn on its own, it does not mean it has been abandoned.

Over the years, there have been reports of people trying to 'help' fawns that they believe are alone by scooping them up, but their intentions could do more harm than good.

Local wildlife expert Pete Wise said babies will start appearing toward the end of the month.

“Mom's take the babies and they will put them down in a bush or a patch of grass or something,” said Wise. “The way Mother Nature works is they get put in that patch of grass and they just stay there, they won't move.”

Wise said the mom can be away for as long as two or three days feeding.

“What you don't want to do is you don't want to handle that deer and they don't want that deer picked up. We have no place to take them. We don't have a facility here that takes deer in. The best thing they can possibly do is leave that deer alone,” said Wise. “By all means we will rescue where ever necessary, but we prefer they don't touch them.”

Wise said the mom will return and all that baby deer has to do is 'bleat' and she will come running.

“The maternal instinct is very strong,” said Wise, adding by handling a deer you are transferring a human scent onto the animal.

If someone spots an injured deer, or any animal in distress, they are urged to the RAPP line at 1-877-952 7277.