Deer

Young white-tailed deer, called fawns, are typically born in May and June. The doe may give birth to 1-3 fawns, and they can weigh as little as three pounds at birth. For the first 2-3 weeks after they are born, fawns lack the strength and speed to escape from danger and follow their mother. During this time, they lie down and move very little, relying on their spotted coat and lack of scent to protect them. Often, fawns are left alone in secluded spots such as wooded areas or fields of tall grass; however, it is also common for them to be found in gardens, yards, parks, or even next to a house. The mother further protects her fawn from predators by staying some distance away except when it is time for the fawn to nurse, often just a few times a day, with feedings typically occurring around dawn and dusk. After a few weeks, fawns will have gained the necessary strength to keep up with their mother and will start to follow her throughout the day. 

Tip: If you find a fawn lying alone, leave it alone unless it is sick or injured. Leave the area and do not go near the spot again. The mother will not return if people or dogs are present. Do not touch the fawn or bring children, dogs or friends to look at it. Doing so could endanger the fawn by giving away its location to a predator, and its mother won't return to nurse the fawn while people or dogs are nearby.

Fawns may also stand up, cry out, and move to a new spot on their own. It can be common for a fawn to walk around and cry out for its mother for a short amount of time. If the mother doesn’t return (for various reasons, including that she’s too far away or there’s too much activity in the area), the fawn will typically lie down again and resume its normal behavior of lying quiet and still until she returns.