White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) - fawn
Most fawns here in Wisconsin are born in May and June. During the first couple of months, fawns spend most of their time hiding, away from their mothers. The mother visits very briefly only twice or three times a day to feed the fawn and move the baby/babies to a new location. Fawns also have underdeveloped scent glands, meaning they don't have a scent for predators to detect. Until a fawn is old enough to be fully mobile and able to outrun danger, the fawn’s best defense is to remain hidden and freeze if danger approaches. And yes, the mom spends most of each day separate from the fawn to avoid attracting predators by her own presence and scent.
If you find a fawn, the best thing you can do is leave it alone. The mother is likely nearby and continuing to check on the fawn. If the baby is injured or appears to be in distress, contact the wildlife rehabilitation or rescue near you.
It took me some effort to get a decent photo of this hiding fawn. I had seen him once before earlier in the summer, when he was a newborn and he has a twin. Their mother I see frequently. The doe typically hides twin fawns separately to protect them from predators. She does this by leaving them in different, secluded locations, often within her familiar home range, and only returning to nurse them. This strategy minimizes the risk of both fawns being discovered by a predator at the same time.
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) - fawn
Most fawns here in Wisconsin are born in May and June. During the first couple of months, fawns spend most of their time hiding, away from their mothers. The mother visits very briefly only twice or three times a day to feed the fawn and move the baby/babies to a new location. Fawns also have underdeveloped scent glands, meaning they don't have a scent for predators to detect. Until a fawn is old enough to be fully mobile and able to outrun danger, the fawn’s best defense is to remain hidden and freeze if danger approaches. And yes, the mom spends most of each day separate from the fawn to avoid attracting predators by her own presence and scent.
If you find a fawn, the best thing you can do is leave it alone. The mother is likely nearby and continuing to check on the fawn. If the baby is injured or appears to be in distress, contact the wildlife rehabilitation or rescue near you.
It took me some effort to get a decent photo of this hiding fawn. I had seen him once before earlier in the summer, when he was a newborn and he has a twin. Their mother I see frequently. The doe typically hides twin fawns separately to protect them from predators. She does this by leaving them in different, secluded locations, often within her familiar home range, and only returning to nurse them. This strategy minimizes the risk of both fawns being discovered by a predator at the same time.