Finding a newborn fawn can be a touching experience, but it also raises a serious question: Should you intervene? In most cases, the best thing you can do is leave it alone. But if the fawn is truly orphaned or injured, knowing how to care for it—at least temporarily—can save its life. This guide walks you through every step to ensure you’re acting safely and responsibly.
Step 1: Determine if the Fawn Really Needs Help
Most newborn fawns are not abandoned. Their mothers leave them hidden in tall grass or brush to avoid attracting predators. If you find one lying still and alone, it’s likely doing exactly what it should.
Signs that a fawn does NOT need help:
- Lying quietly with no obvious injuries
- No distress calls (bleating)
- Curled up in a safe spot
- Clean, bright eyes and normal breathing
Signs that a fawn MAY need help:
- Visible wounds or bleeding
- Crying or following humans
- Covered in ants or flies
- Mother is confirmed dead nearby
- Cold, weak, or unresponsive
If you’re unsure, observe from a distance for several hours. Mother deer often return only at dawn or dusk to nurse. Interfering too soon can do more harm than good.
Step 2: Contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
It’s illegal in many areas to keep or raise wild deer without a license. Even with good intentions, you could unintentionally harm the fawn. Your best move is to immediately call a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal control office.
They have the training, permits, and resources to raise fawns in a way that prepares them for life in the wild.
Step 3: What to Do While Waiting for Help
If a rehabilitator can’t get there right away and the fawn is injured or clearly orphaned, you may need to care for it temporarily. Here’s what you should do (and not do).
Do:
- Keep the fawn warm using a towel, blanket, or heating pad on low
- Place it in a quiet, dark area away from pets and children
- Gently clean any minor injuries with warm water only—no chemicals
- Handle the fawn as little as possible to avoid stress
Don’t:
- Try to feed the fawn right away—giving the wrong formula can kill it
- Expose it to loud sounds, bright lights, or too much handling
- Assume it’s abandoned after a short time
- Attempt to raise it yourself unless you’re trained and permitted
Step 4: Feeding a Newborn Fawn (If Absolutely Necessary)
Feeding should only be done if you cannot reach a professional within several hours and the fawn is weak or hungry. Baby deer have sensitive digestive systems and require a very specific diet.
Safe emergency feeding options:
- Goat’s milk: Closest substitute if you can’t get true fawn formula
- Specialty formula: Esbilac Puppy Milk mixed with goat’s milk can work in emergencies
Use a pet nursing bottle or a syringe. Feed only small amounts—2 to 4 ounces depending on the fawn’s size. Keep the milk warm (not hot) and feed in a natural upright position, never on its back.
Important feeding tips:
- Do not give cow’s milk—it can cause fatal digestive upset
- Warm the milk to about body temperature
- Burp the fawn gently after feeding by rubbing its back
Step 5: Keeping the Fawn Safe and Calm
Fawns stress easily. Loud noise, movement, or unfamiliar smells can weaken their immune systems and trigger health issues. Create a calm, dark environment and limit exposure to humans and pets.
You can place the fawn in a laundry basket with high sides, lined with soft towels. Cover the basket with a light blanket to simulate a dark, enclosed area like tall grass or brush.
Step 6: Understand the Goal—Release, Not Domestication
The goal of any fawn rescue is to eventually return it to the wild. Keeping a deer as a pet is not only illegal in most places but also unfair to the animal. Deer raised without proper socialization will not learn fear of predators and will struggle to survive on their own.
Wildlife rehabilitators follow strict steps to wean fawns off human interaction as they grow, often placing them in groups to encourage natural behavior.
Why You Shouldn’t Keep a Fawn
Even if the fawn seems calm and cute, keeping it long-term causes serious issues:
- Imprinting: The fawn may bond with you instead of its own species
- Lack of survival skills: A hand-raised fawn may not know how to find food or avoid danger
- Legal trouble: Possession of wild deer is illegal without proper permits in many states
- Health risks: Deer can carry ticks, parasites, or diseases
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the mother never returns?
If the fawn is still alone after 10-12 hours and showing signs of distress (crying, walking aimlessly), it’s likely orphaned and needs help.
Can I feed a fawn cow’s milk?
No. Cow’s milk can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration in fawns. Use goat’s milk or contact a wildlife rehabilitator for the correct formula.
Is it legal to keep a fawn?
In most states, no. Wild deer are protected by law, and raising one without proper licensing can lead to fines or the animal being confiscated.
How long do fawns stay hidden?
Fawns remain hidden for the first 1–2 weeks of life. During this time, the mother visits only a few times per day to nurse. It’s normal to find them alone and motionless.
Conclusion: Help, Don’t Harm
Caring for a newborn fawn is a serious responsibility. In most cases, nature is doing exactly what it should—and the best thing you can do is leave the fawn alone. But if the animal is truly injured or orphaned, temporary care can make a difference. Always contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and never attempt to raise a wild deer on your own.
Your actions can determine whether a fawn survives and thrives in the wild. Choose wisely, act compassionately, and always put the animal’s future first.