It's Spring, which means lots of new babies on the Central Coast, including fawns. Every year, our SPCA Wildlife Center receives tiny fawns mistakenly kidnapped from their attentive mothers. This is because fawns spend the majority of their time curled up in a ball alone, and may appear to be abandoned when this is a normal part of their growing process.
Mother deer leave their babies hidden and alone in a safe space during most of the day, often only visiting them during dawn and dusk. These fawns are not abandoned; the mother is likely out of sight watching you. If you find a fawn lying quietly in a curled up ball, leave it where it is, stay back and out of sight, and keep dogs as far away as possible. The mother will not return if she senses people or dogs are too close. A fawn lying quietly in a curled position on its stomach is not in need of rescue.
If you are worried that the fawn might be in distress, look for the following signs:
- labored breathing
- walking and vocalizing for over an hour
- blood
- clearly broken bones
- lying prone on its side (rather than curled or on its stomach)
- a deceased mother on site
If you see these signs, please do not rescue the fawn yourself. Call the SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center immediately at 831-264-5427. Once contacted, our technicians will evaluate the situation and give you instructions on how to proceed.
Do not attempt to rescue a fawn without the guidance of our technicians. Never bring a fawn into your home. Fawns are extremely sensitive to stress. The terror of being handled by humans and receiving any incorrect care or incorrect diet, even for just one day, severely decreases a fawn’s chances for survival and release. Thank you for helping us keep wildlife safe and wild!
