Keeping it wild: neighbors ensure newborn fawn is not removed from the wild

SALEM, Ore. – Last week in a Corvallis neighborhood, residents worked together to ensure a newborn fawn spotted on a grass strip between a sidewalk and road was left alone. By early evening, its mother returned for her fawn.

ODFW biologists praised the residents for recognizing that does often leave their fawns for several hours while they feed, returning only when the area is safe and quiet.

"We love seeing neighbors step up like this. When people understand that a fawn by itself is rarely in trouble, it gives that young animal the best chance to survive," said Anne Mary Myers, ODFW wildlife biologist.

Myers says in most cases, it's best to leave young animals where you found them – deer, and all wildlife, invest a significant amount of energy and resources into reproducing, and it's very unlikely they would abandon their young.

Regardless of a person's intentions, removing young wild animals from their natural environment drastically reduces their chance of survival. It could also lead to a warning or citation from the Oregon State Police.

It is illegal to remove an animal from the wild under Oregon wildlife laws. (ORS 497.308 – No person shall remove from its natural habitat or acquire and hold in captivity any live wildlife in violation of the wildlife laws.)

In spring and early summer, ODFW offices, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and even Oregon State Police are flooded with calls from people who picked up a deer fawn, elk calf, fledgling bird learning to fly, or other young animal they assumed was orphaned because it was alone.

Even if these animals receive care from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, successfully returning a young animal to the wild is not always possible. Options for long-term placement in wildlife sanctuaries or zoos are limited, and animals often must be euthanized if they lack the survival skills to be released back into the wild. Some animals raised by people can also become dangerous as they grow into adults and pose a serious threat to human safety.

If you care about wildlife, watch from a distance, avoid interference, and let wild animals stay wild.

Deer and elk

Oregon's deer and elk give birth from May through July. It's natural for mother animals to leave their young alone and hidden for extended period of time so they can feed and then return to feed their young. They will return when it's safe for them to do so – when people, pets or predators aren't around.

Marine mammals

Harbor seal pups are born in late March through April. Mothers often leave their pups at haul-outs or sandy beaches while they search for food. It is federally illegal to harass marine mammals – this includes picking up, moving or handling any marine mammal you find at the beach. Stay away from resting seals and sea lions and keep dogs away. Report marine mammal strandings to the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Birds

Birds nest in the spring. Young birds may be found from late February through early summer. Fledglings (baby birds) can leave the nest and become separated from their parents as they learn to fly. At this stage of development, the fledgling is commonly waiting for a parent to return with a meal. Unless the bird is injured, leave it alone or carefully lift it back onto a branch to help it avoid predators.

Ducklings and goslings frequently become separated from their mothers due to disturbance from people or predators. If you spot young waterfowl without a mother, please leave them alone and leave the area so the mother can return.

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