Fawns curl up at the base of trees or in bushes to hide, and it’s very likely that their mother is nearby.
While strolling in deer habitats, people may encounter fawns curled up alone at the base of trees or in thickets. However, they do not actually need to be rescued.
Adult deer have cleverly devised a method to forage after giving birth. Instead of slowing their journey with an unsteady fawn, they hide their young in hard-to-detect places.
If you see a fawn lying alone in the forest, its mother is likely nearby. (Photo: Rudmer Zwerver).
Fawns are also experts at hiding. The young of most deer species have spots on their backs that fade as they mature. This feature helps them camouflage while they are small. While the mother forages, the fawns lie curled up and motionless. Newborn fawns even spend over 95% of their time hiding this way.
For large land mammals, this is one of two common methods to ensure the survival of their young in the wild. While deer are “hiders,” other animals like bison and bighorn sheep are “followers,” with their newborns standing and following their mothers immediately after birth. Fawns begin life in a more leisurely manner, only standing to nurse before the mother returns to graze.
Finding a fawn lying alone in the woods may cause concern that it is in trouble, leading people to attempt a “rescue,” but this is a significant mistake. The mother deer remembers where she hides her fawn, and if it is taken by humans, she may not be able to find it again. Taking a fawn away can significantly reduce its chances of survival. Moreover, deer often struggle to thrive in captivity.
Wildlife agencies advise not to touch fawns in the wild because they are very rarely abandoned, and the mother is usually not far away. Human presence can deter the mother from returning.
There are some exceptions, such as discovering a fawn beside a dead mother, injured, or trying to attract attention and crying out in pain. In these cases, the finder should contact the local wildlife agency for assistance. Experts will assess the situation and recommend the next steps.
