Fawns that are taken from local forests after they are found without their mother are put into life-threatening danger, local wildlife officials warn. (Lindsay Somers photo)

Mothers hide their offspring while momma searches for food; do-gooders reduce chance of fawn survival ‘to zero’

Well-intentioned Southern Oregon residents who are rescuing seemingly abandoned fawns in local forests are actually doing much more harm than good, wildlife officials warn.

Meghan C. Dugan, public information officer for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Umpqua and Rogue watersheds, says the practice is more akin to “kidnapping.”  

“Our Central Point office has gotten at least half a dozen calls or visits from people who ‘kidnapped’ fawns they assumed were abandoned,” Dugan said in a press release, noting she had posted a warning to residents in the NextDoor app.

“It’s only Tuesday, and we’ve already had at least 6 (well-meaning) people bring us fawns they thought were abandoned, or they called us to ask what to do with the little ones they picked up,” Dugan said in the release. “Momma deer do NOT abandon their fawns — they hide their fawns and leave the area to avoid attracting predators while they eat so they can then feed their fawns.”

Dugan said a doe has put half a year of intense effort into reproducing and will go to great lengths to find her fawn, often searching the area in a grid pattern.

“The hard truth is that removing a fawn from the wild almost immediately reduces its chances of survival to zero,” she noted. “Please, leave fawns where they are. Their best chance of survival will always be right there where you spotted them.”

This is the time of year when deer are giving birth, Dugan explained, “so you may see more fawns left alone for extended periods while mom is off feeding.”

“If you find a fawn (or any young wildlife) that you believe is injured or abandoned, call your local ODFW office before taking any action. In the vast majority of situations, the best thing you can do for the animal is to leave it alone. Remember, removing an animal from the wild is illegal under Oregon wildlife laws (ORS 497.308).”

Dugan noted that even if an animal receives care from a wildlife rehabilitator, successfully returning a young animal to the wild is not always possible. 

“Options for long-term placement in wildlife sanctuaries or zoos are limited, and not all animals will survive, much less thrive, in a life of captivity,” she said.

“Finally, keep your distance from does as they are extremely protective of their fawns and have injured people and killed small pets,” Dugan concluded. “Stay away from does with fawns, and keep pets leashed and close to you.”

Call ODFW’s Central Point office at 541-826-8774. To learn more, visit https://myodfw.com/articles/leave-young-wildlife-wild,

Reach Rogue Valley Times Editor Troy Heie at troy.heie@rv-times.com.