NEW JERSEY – In the spring and summer months, you may come across newborn and young wildlife.
White-tailed deer fawns are left alone during the day to keep them safe until they are strong enough to keep up with the adults, according to New Jersey wildlife officials said.
Their lack of scent and color pattern can help them remain undetected while the mother is away feeding.
If you come across a fawn, the best thing you can do is to leave it undisturbed and leave the area. The mother comes back several times each day to nurse the fawn, officials said.
If you’ve already picked the fawn up and brought it home – put it back. Even one or two days after removal from the wild, fawns have been successfully reunited with their mothers, by returning them to the place where they were found, officials said.
Adult deer spend much of the day feeding and loafing. Fawns that are not strong enough on their legs to keep up with the adults are left behind. Usually young fawns are quite safe because their color pattern and lack of scent help them to remain undetected until their mother’s return, officials said.
