Spring is here and calls to our Animal Services Officers and Wildlife Management Specialist about white-tailed deer fawns will shortly begin.
Every spring, many fawns (baby deer) are often found, and people ask wildlife experts to care for these young animals. In most cases, fawns are healthy and need no human intervention. With the onset of fawning season, it is important to learn more about deer behavior, the signs that a fawn may truly be in trouble and restrictions related to disease management and deer herd health that affect fawn rehabilitation within Fairfax County.
White-tailed deer fawns are born April through July, with most fawns born in May and June. Newborn fawns are often found on lawns, in flower beds, gardens, bushes or areas of tall grass near homes. It is common for people to encounter white-tailed deer fawns motionless and without their mother, then mistakenly assume it is orphaned or abandoned. In almost all cases, fawns are only temporarily left by their mothers for protection and just need to be left alone.
Female deer, called does, typically leave their fawns bedded down for extended periods of time while they are away foraging to avoid leading predators to their young. Young fawns are “hiders” and will not try to run away when they are approached. If you see a fawn that appears abandoned, leave it alone.
The mother may be out of sight but is likely nearby. Does will return several times each day to move and/or feed their young. These visits are usually undetected by people because the mother deer only stays to feed the fawn for just a few minutes before leaving it alone again. The mother deer will be wary of you and human presence could prevent her from returning. Give the fawn space and keep children and pets away to allow the doe to return and care for her fawn.
Rehabilitation Prohibited
The rehabilitation of deer fawns in Fairfax County is prohibited. Additionally, deer fawns originating from Fairfax County may not be rehabilitated in any other locality. These restrictions on fawn rehabilitation, which are administered and enforced by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, are implemented to reduce potential transmission and spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) within deer populations in the Commonwealth.
Chronic Wasting Disease is a slow, progressive neurologic disease affecting white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family. The disease is always fatal to affected animals and there is no vaccine to prevent infection and no known treatment for infected animals. CWD has been confirmed in Fairfax County, and the county is included in a CWD Disease Management Area, which includes regulatory actions to limit the spread of this disease within the county and to new areas.
State wildlife regulations (4VAC15-90-294) and wildlife rehabilitator permit conditions prohibit the rehabilitation of fawns in any county (including the cities and towns therein) designated for disease management. Within northern Virginia, this includes Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington, Loudoun and Fauquier counties. These measures are implemented to protect the health and welfare of the overall deer population since rehabilitation activities could unknowingly result in the translocation and/or release of infected animals.
Given that fawns cannot be rehabilitated in Fairfax County, it is especially important to make every effort possible to leave healthy fawns where they are found to have the best chance of survival.
Tips for Best Chances of Survival
A fawn’s best chance of survival is to remain in the wild under the natural care of its mother. Now, more than ever, we ask residents to leave fawns alone unless their health is truly compromised, as euthanasia would be the only option if a fawn is removed from the wild and cannot be reunited with its mother. If you encounter a fawn, do not handle or disturb it; this causes unnecessary stress for the animal. Do not feed the fawn or attempt to care for it yourself. Raising a wild animal in captivity is illegal in Virginia unless you have a wildlife rehabilitation permit issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
You should only seek help for a fawn if it is showing obvious signs of injury or distress, such as wandering and crying incessantly, has swollen eyes, is covered with flies, fly eggs, or maggots, shows visible signs of trauma such as open wounds or broken bones, or if there is a dead doe nearby. If an animal is displaying these signs that may indicate it is sick, injured, or truly orphaned, contact an Animal Services Officer at 703-691-2131 for further guidance and assistance.
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