Here’s why you should leave baby deer alone if you spot them without their mother

A mother deer was caught in a Winnipeg neighbourhood caring for her two fawns.

It’s that time of year where people might be spotting some baby animals around the city.

While they look cute and cuddly, an expert said people need to leave them be.

One of the more common animals to find inside the city limits is deer. Offspring were born within the last month and are now following their mother around as they take in their new world.

However, there are times when they can be seen lying in the grass, with mom nowhere in sight. Barret Miller, the manager of education and programs at Assiniboine Park Conservancy, said this is perfectly fine and people should stay away from the fawns.

“Mom can leave the fawn, go and forage, feed herself so she can feed her little one and not have to worry,” he said. “The worry comes in if the fawn actually is moved or has to move, and that’s where it’s always best for us to be hands-off.”

Miller said mother deer can leave their fawn for up to seven hours at a time as they search for food sources.

The fawn is left behind because they haven’t reached the point yet where they can run away if a predator were to appear.

“Baby deer, super cool. Very little scent, almost no noise, and that beautiful spotted pattern is actually camouflage. They look like the shadows in the grass or dappled sunlight through leaves. Essentially, they’re invisible to most predators.”

Deer can be found anywhere in the city, Miller said, noting the parks that we enjoy in Winnipeg, the deer do too.

Right now, those fawns are growing quickly, according to Miller, and by the end of July they should be big enough to be joining mom on the food forage. By the end of August, he said they will look like miniature versions of adult deer.

But until that time comes, he is reminding people to give them plenty of space and admire their beauty from afar.

“They’re not pets. They are still very, very wild,” Miller said. “Let’s keep wildlife wild by keeping people food to people and wild food to wild animals.”

The only time Miller suggests that people should possibly intervene with a fawn is if they notice it has been alone for multiple days.

“Always talk to one of our excellent wildlife rehabilitators before you take any action yourself and only take any action that they recommend.”