Found a baby deer and no Mom – what do we do? HELP!!!!?
Biking up a mountain and spotted a very small deer. Never seen one this little.. young. He was really wobbly walking. He was walking in about a 5 foot strip between a rock wall and a road I was worried about him getting in the road – no sign of Mom anywhere, no way for Mom to really get to him as far as I could see. I called a friend who lives at the base of the mountain, she drove up and she was also worried he was going to get hit or… There were some deer up a couple of switch backs up and we chose to put him in the car and take him to that location, about 200 yards from where we found him (as the crow flies). It was away from the road and close to the herd with other baby deer that looked stronger. In retrospect, we probably should have left him where he was, I don’t know.
It has been a few hours and is dark now. I just drove up to check on him and he is still there. I don’t know what to do so I am leaving him be until morning. Still hoping Mom will come back but I am doubtful.
Does anyone know what to feed a baby deer, someone told me goats milk. I just can’t leave him for dead and I won’t. He already seems skinny. Can he go all night wihtout eating?. Does anyone know what to do at all? What are the chances his Mom will come back? Would she have already come back if she was going to? If she is not back in the morning is it safe to assume she is not coming back?
Please don’t guess, please write if you actually have some knowledge and know what to do.
The D.O.W. wasn’t going to help, maybe if he is abandoned overnight they will? Any ideas of organizations to call for help? He is really cute so maybe a zoo might want him?? HELP!!!
Any ideas?
I am in Colorado if that helps.
If you want to write just to tell me I should not have moved the deer – you are not being helpful. Looking for a solution not a judgement call onmy actions
September 5th, 2011 at 1:36 am
…hippy, seriously IT IS AN ANIMAL. Stop trying to intervene with nature, let it be. If it is meant to die it is meant to die. Seriously you are doing nature no better by trying to protect it. It is a wild animal that will grow up to be hit by my pick up truck or one of my many guns.
tax and spend for best answer I agree with everything he says.
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September 5th, 2011 at 2:36 am
do u think maybe u can google a zoo near
u and get a number?
tax and spend for best answer I agree with everything he says.
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September 5th, 2011 at 3:36 am
Prey animals do not stay with their young because it only draws predators near. It is safer for both the mother and child when they do not stay together until the young one is old enough to run from a predator without being killed.
Now that you have both moved and touched him, his mother will likely not return to him (she probably won’t even be able to find him now). A predator is more likely to kill him by the morning than anything else.
You should have never have touched him. You are in Colorado. You should know better than to interfere with wildlife.
I don’t know what you expected the DOW to do as it’s not their area at all. You’ll need to contact a wildlife rescue organization and tell them you have touched and moved a baby deer. Since you did not say where city in Colorado you are in, I can’t just recommend one for you.
tax and spend for best answer I agree with everything he says.
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September 5th, 2011 at 4:37 am
I have read that most fawns that appear to have been abandoned or orphaned really haven;t. Their mothers typically leave them alone (but usually in a fairly safe and hidden place) for long periods of time. I think the reason is that the babies don’t have any scent yet, and the presence of the mother, who does, could actually draw predators. However, It has also been my understanding that those babies sleep most of the time; and the fact that this one was walking may indicate something out of the ordinary. And did he really seem thinner than the other fawns where you released him?
How about this: in the morning, fill a baby bottle with warm milk, goat’s if you can get it, and go back to where you last saw him. . If he’s gone, say a prayer that he’s with his mother. If he’s still alone, you can try to feed him, and then call the DOW again. Or check in the meantime on any other animal rescue organizations in your area. Then if you have to call the DOW, you can make sure before you tell them exactly where he is that they really will rescue him and not just prevent him from starving to death.
I hope someone more knowledgeable but equally inclined to the way you and I both seem to think sees your question!
tax and spend for best answer I agree with everything he says.
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September 5th, 2011 at 5:39 am
Quotes from wildlife rehabilitation sites, because I go through this conversation everyday, and cant be bothered saying it again:
‘Fawns are often left alone from a very early age and the mother will return to feed them. This is a survival strategy, because the mum is trying to keep potential predators (including you!) away from her young. Either watch the fawn from a distance to see if the mum returns, or leave the baby in peace and check on it again after 24 hours’
This is FANTASTIC: Read it.
http://foxwoodrehab.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/we_found_a_fawn.html
Also good:
http://www.carolinawildlife.org/fawns.htm
Basiclly, this is me speaking:
Is the fawn curled up?
If it is LEAVE it.
Its THAT simple.
As long as your there, the doe will keep away.
Does and rabbits leave their young for long periods. The doe will return when your not there. Simple.
The fawn is fine.
The mother has NOT abandoned it.
Its not in danger.
The only thing that’s endangering it, is not a predator, its YOU.
You have basically destroyed his life by moving him.
A zoo wont want a WILD animal.
That fawn is being left in a completely natural way.
I am begging you, really begging you, LEAVE IT.
The mother chose to leave him there, for his own safety, she trusts that area, she trusts the humans in that area, so please, respect the doe, leave her baby. She will not be far away, she is just waiting for you to go, because your a predator.
I am not shouting at you.
I am just saying, and begging you, please leave it.
Its fine. Its nit a human, it has different survival techniques.
Wildlife rehab: Number one problem:
‘I found a fawn’
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