What to Do If You Find a Baby Deer Alone in Your Yard, According to Wildlife Experts

Spring and summer bring plenty of new plants and flowers to your garden, but it's not just the flora that thrives: It's also the season for baby animals, including deer, to make their debut. Mother deer can have one or two fawns each year, giving birth in May or June and watching the babies grow and develop through the summer.

Deer are herd animals, but that doesn't mean a baby will always be spotted alongside its mother. Especially in the first months of its life, a baby deer is often left alone—and on purpose. If you see a deer resting or dozing in your yard or neighborhood, don't rush to intervene: In most cases, the fawn is fine and requires no assistance.

However, wildlife professionals note that some scenarios do require a professional. Learn to recognize them—and understand the drawbacks of unnecessary intervention—with these expert tips.

Why Baby Deer Are Often Left Alone

A doe who leaves her fawn alone isn't neglecting her motherly duties. After the mother and baby spend about six to eight hours together post-birth, it's completely normal for the fawn to find its own spot to sleep. "The doe will be somewhere nearby, but usually out of sight, either foraging or bedded down," says Don Wagner, deer unit manager at Penn State University.  "When it is time to nurse, she will come back to the area and search for the fawn. The only time the doe is with the fawns during their first few weeks of life is when they are actually nursing and cleaning them."

Fawns are born without a scent—a protective quality that makes it more difficult for predators to find them. If the mother stays too close, then her scent could lead attackers right to the baby. "Mom places fawns in places she feels are safe—tall grass, under a bush, beside a house or fence, sometimes even on a deck," says Carolyn Wilder, co-chair, Education Committee, Wildlife Rescue League.

You might spot a newborn fawn taking advantage of a sunny spot in your yard or wandering into the shade as the day heats up. "When they are very young, they are not able to regulate their own temperature, so they will lie in the sun for warmth and move to the shade to cool down," says Leah Stallings, executive director of Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. "The fawn is not strong enough to follow the mother, who needs to roam in order to digest her food properly. The mother may also have other fawns in the area that she is tending to, so she might be away for long periods of time."

How to Evaluate a Fawn's Needs

Baby deer may look like they need help, but they rarely do—even if you see them wobbling on their skinny legs or not moving at all. For the first few weeks of their lives, newborns protect themselves by staying completely still when predators (or humans) approach; this doesn't mean they're hurt. "They are so beautifully camouflaged that a predator will actually not see them unless they move," says Stallings. "It is common to be able to walk right up to a newborn fawn. Once the fawn is about two weeks old, it should run away when approached."

During those first two weeks, the fawns are "very tiny and very wobbly," says Stallings, weighing between 6 and 8 pounds. "When they are under one week old, they look emaciated and are only able to walk short distances, and their gait is somewhat wobbly," she says. "They may even fall down while trying to walk—this is normal. If you identify a fawn as a newborn, if it is able to hold its head upright, it is most likely fine and should be left alone."

After two or three weeks, expect the baby to explore more of its area but still often on its own. "After two weeks, the mother will generally collect the fawn and keep it with her. This is when you will see momma deer with two or even three fawns grazing in the field," says Stallings. "They begin to lose their spots in late summer, and by August, most young deer are too big (30 pounds) to be taken into captivity for any reason. They wean by late summer, so an older fawn that is without a mother can survive by hanging out with the herd at night."

How to Tell If a Baby Deer Needs Help

If you see a baby deer by itself in your yard or neighborhood, and you're not sure if you should intervene, our experts say to check for the following.

Listen for Crying

Like most mammals, a baby deer that needs its mother will cry to get her attention. "If it's crying, it's hungry, which means mom hasn't been back," says Wilder. "Mom only feeds the fawn twice a day—dawn and dusk—to avoid attracting predators to the baby. The fawn knows to be quiet and not move around, so if it's doing either, there's a problem."

Crying can also indicate that the mother—not the baby—is in danger. "A fawn that is wandering and crying for eight hours or more is in distress," says Stallings. "It is normal for them to cry to call the mother, and she might not hear them right away, but she will return if she is able, and many hours of crying signal a problem."

A baby deer crying with no response may mean that the baby has been abandoned, says Wagner. "Reasons for this could be the doe was hit by a vehicle or got chased out of the area by some type of human activity, dogs, or other predators,” he says.

Look for Injuries

If you can get a closer look at the fawn, pay attention to any injuries to its body or limbs. "It is normal for a fawn to sleep curled up like a cat. Sometimes the head is up, and sometimes down or tucked around the body," says Stallings. "It is never stretched out for long periods of time, or head positioned with the chin facing up like he’s looking backward."

Watch for Flies

Flies are a sign that a newborn deer needs professional attention. "Large amounts of fly eggs or maggots on the body or fecal material under its tail or on its back legs—these are indications that the mother is not doing an adequate job keeping the fawn clean, or the fawn has potentially serious health issues," says Wagner.

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When to Call a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Never try to feed or care for a baby deer on your own. Instead, call a wildlife rehabilitator for deer demonstrating the signs above. Keep in mind that deer are more challenging for experts to rescue than other types of wildlife. "Regulations regarding the rehab of deer vary significantly by state and even between regions of the same state," says Wagner. Some states allow wildlife rehabilitation centers to accept deer, while others do not, so always check with your state wildlife agency. Some states also require that wildlife rehabilitation centers have a special certification to rescue deer.

This is mainly due to an effort to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease in deer, Wagner warns. Chronic wasting disease spreads from animal to animal, or through contaminated food, water, or soil. Regulations can prevent wildlife rehabilitators from relocating deer from their native area to prevent this disease from moving between regions. "In Virginia, chronic wasting disease has limited our ability to rehabilitate fawns in multiple counties," says Wilder. "Fawns from those counties cannot be transported to unaffected counties due to fear of spreading the disease."

If your local rehabilitation center does accept deer, they will most likely ask you for any details you have about the fawn's location, condition, and size. They will then arrange transportation instead of asking you to approach the animal. "The more information you have to give the rehabilitator, the better the outcome," says Stallings. "As with any wildlife situation, observation is your friend."

If the deer is obviously hurt, you can gently protect it after calling the wildlife center. "While waiting for a return call, the rescuer should cover the fawn with a towel or blanket and keep everyone away from it," says Stallings.  "This will help prevent fly strike, which can be deadly. If there is bleeding, pressure on the wound is helpful.  Do not attempt to pick up the fawn until instructed on how to do so by the wildlife rehabilitator."

Common Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes when you see a lone fawn, as they may hurt more than they help.

Approaching the Deer

It's tempting to approach a baby deer, but in nearly every case, you should leave it alone. "If you see a fawn, don’t approach it unless it appears injured or sick," says Wagner. "Chances are, its mother is close by, and you don’t want to cause her to run away. If it appears healthy, just leave it where it is, and if possible, keep other people and pets away from the area. If there are no disturbances, the doe will likely be back to take care of it."

Feeding a Baby Deer

Baby deer are fed by their mothers twice a day, and you should not interfere by offering other food or liquid. "Abruptly changing a deer’s diet can cause serious health issues," says Wagner. "If the fawn does need to go to a wildlife rehab center, they will make recommendations for offering food or water."

Wilder suggests searching for a "hungry fawn" video you can play on your phone or tablet, which may bring the mother doe back. "If mom is around, she will come to the fawn," says Wilder.  "If you have determined that mom is no longer around, leave the fawn until a rehabilitator can get to it. Never feed or water a fawn: Their mother's milk is different from cows and other mammals, and the wrong milk will cause diarrhea and dehydration."

Bringing It Home

You should never bring home a baby deer, even if you intend to feed it and then return it to the area where you found it. "Once deer are imprinted on humans who bottle feed them, they can become very aggressive to other people later in life," says Wagner. "This is especially the case with bucks. There are a number of cases of bottle-fed bucks attacking, injuring, and sometimes killing unsuspecting people when they get older. Does can also get aggressive during the fawning season but are generally not as dangerous as a bottle-fed buck during the breeding season."