Deer Fawns Being Born – Leave Them Alone Urges DNR

Thank you to Minnesota DNR CO Steven M. Chihak for this important information concerning fawns.

Deer fawns are being born now and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up. “Most fawns are born in late May and mid-June.  Leaving them alone gives them the best chance for survival, even if they appear abandoned or fragile,” said Adam Murkowski, DNR big game program leader.

Fawns do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks of life. Instead, fawns remain still to avoid being seen, their white spots serving as camouflage. During these times fawns are learning critical survival skills from their mothers. Bringing fawns into human environments separates them from their mothers – and usually results in sad endings for the animals.

“We understand people often have good intentions, but we want people to know that fawns survive best without intervention,” Murkowski said. Murkowski encourages people to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful, and he offered these tips:

• Deer and moose nurse their young at different times during the day, and often leave their young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return.

• Deer normally will not feed or care for their young when people are nearby.

• Deer fawns can lose their natural fear of people, which can be essential to their survival.

• Keep domestic pets indoors, leashed or fenced in. Dogs can kill fawns and other baby animals.

• For more information about what to do if you find fawns or other species of baby wild animals, visit the DNR's page regarding this topic.