Due to a number of reports of people taking fawn deer out of the wild, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding people that the practice is potentially deadly for the fawn in addition to being illegal.
“People take the fawn, thinking they are helping, when, in fact, they are causing the deer great harm. The fawn will become imprinted with no fear of humans or dogs, which will eventually result in the death of the deer,” said Jerry Shores, an FWC law enforcement investigator.
“I have also seen people give the fawns the wrong milk replacement. This too can result in the death of the fawn.”
Shores said the reason people give for taking a fawn is that they believe it was abandoned by the mother. This is rarely the case. You should never remove a fawn from the woods unless it is confirmed the mother is dead. It is common for the mother to leave the fawn hidden while she feeds a distance away.
Those who are concerned about a fawn left alone have a legal option: Anyone suspecting a fawn has been orphaned should call 888-404-FWCC (3922). That number is also the one to call to report a deer in captivity or other wildlife violation concerns.
“It is illegal to remove a fawn from the wild – plain and simple,” said Shores. “We investigate all these reports, and if we find a fawn at a private dwelling, the person who seized the deer can be criminally cited.”
The FWC then has to move the deer to the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator until the animal can be released back into the wild. The rehabbers that are licensed by FWC have over 1,000 hours caring for wildlife and are experts in raising animals with little or no imprinting, Shores noted.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Taking fawns from the wild bad for young deer, illegal