As the weather gets warmer, wildlife of all kinds begin to emerge from the woods with their young. This time of year, I'm always particularly watchful of fawns trying to cross the street with their mothers. There are a lot of them where I live.
These sweet little animals are fun to look at, but there's still so much that we need to learn about them. For example, a mother deer will often leave her fawn in hiding areas like tall grass while she goes off to graze.
Many people assume the fawn has been abandoned and call animal control right away. The fawns are then needlessly separated from their mothers, when most of the time they're perfectly fine!
Sometimes, however, animals really do need our help. Scott McDaniel, president of Susquehannock Wildlife Society, spoke with LittleThings about this situation where human intervention was extremely necessary to save the life of a little fawn.
Scroll down to learn more about the warning signs you should look out for when a young fawn is in danger, and let us know what you think of this rescue story in the comments!
[H/T: The Dodo]
Scott McDaniel was on the scene when worried passersby saw this sweet little fawn hiding under a vehicle alone.
"Police officers called and said they needed help," he told LittleThings.
"The mother had not been seen for a least a day."
When they got closer, they could clearly see the fawn had been injured.
"The mother probably abandoned it because it was hurt," McDaniel explained.
McDaniel and his team then reached out to Chadwell Animal Hospital, which has a vet who often does pro bono work for his organization.
There, the sweet little fawn was in good hands.
McDaniel says this was certainly an instance in which people should have been called out to intervene. This isn't always the case, however.
"Most of the calls we get for fawns, they’re not injured. Most of the time the mother actually does not stay with the fawn during the day as to not attract predators to them," he told LittleThings.
So how can you tell if a fawn has been abandoned by its mother or is actually injured? There are a few telltale signs.
"If they have flies around them, they’re crying, or visibly injured, that’s an indication that the mother is not around," said McDaniel.
McDaniel said the best thing you can do if you see a fawn on its own in your area is to keep an eye on it!
"Always call a wildlife rehabilitation center before you do anything," explained McDaniel. "Unless it's in immediate danger, you should always call someone for advice."
If immediate assistance is needed, McDaniel has a few tips to handle the situation.
"Wear gloves to protect yourself," he said. "If your'e going to rescue an animal, be very calm, slow moving, use a soothing voice."
Thanks to the Susquehannock Wildlife Society, one more baby deer is getting proper care and a second chance at a happy and healthy life.
If you'd like to learn more about the Susquehannock Wildlife Society and their rescue stories, visit them on Facebook!
Have you ever saved a wild animal that was in need? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE with anyone who may find this information useful!
