Newborn fawn rescued from Okanagan cliff

Central Okanagan Search and rescue shared this photo of a rescued fawn on May 31, 2025. (Facebook/CentralOkanaganSAR)

Search and rescue crews doing a training exercise in the Okanagan saved a newborn fawn that had fallen down a cliff Saturday.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue shared the news in a social media post, saying the baby deer was spotted trapped on a cliff in Kalamalka Lake Park at Rattlesnake Point.

“The mule deer fawn was likely no more than one day old. She was quite wet and breathing quickly when we rescue her, but she was otherwise uninjured. We were able to access her… and carry her to the top of the steep cliff where her mother was last seen,” said COSAR boat captain Mitch LaRue, in a Facebook post.

“We have rescued dozens of people over the years and even a few dogs, but a newborn baby deer was definitely a first for me.”

Fawning season in B.C. is from May to June, and the B.C. SPCA issues advice annually to anyone who spots what they think is a baby deer in need of rescuing.

According to the charity, it’s normal for a doe to leave her newborn fawn alone for lengthy periods of time.

“Fawns can’t follow their mothers for the first two weeks, so they spend nearly all their time alone. Mom comes back generally around dawn and dusk to nurse them,” a post on the organization’s website says.

“Fawns are only cat-sized when born, so it’s normal for them to look small and weak.”

Anyone who is worried a fawn has been orphaned or abandoned is urged to monitor the animal and consult with an expert before taking action.

Signs the animal may need rescuing include if it is seen staying in the same hiding spot for more than 24 hours, or if it is “wandering aimlessly” and/or “crying continuously,” the B.C. SPCA says.

People who think they have spotted a fawn in distress are urged to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.