AU veterinarians say don’t disturb baby deer

AUBURN UNIVERSITY - Veterinarians at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are encouraging those who find baby deer this summer not to disturb them.

“It’s that time of year when fawns are being born,” said Dr. Dwight Wolfe, a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. “People have good intentions when they come across one without its mother, but the best thing to do is not disturb it. By handling and moving the animal, you can do more harm than good. In fact, it is illegal to remove a wild animal from its natural environment.”

Deer have a natural ability to hide their young, according to Dr. Wolfe.

“They hide their fawns from predators and return later after seeking food and water,” he said. “With the deer population growing and moving more into city limits, and with people moving into the country, there will be more sightings of young deer.”

He adds that deer should be left alone even if injured or orphaned, because it could be a harmful situation for both the deer and person. If a person believes a wild animal is hurt or abandoned, he should contact the local wildlife conservation officer.

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Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/agfd/