05/13/2026
It's that time again !! Good information if you find a fawn and what to do ! ♥️
If you’ve ever encountered a fawn curled up in your yard, you may have wondered if it needed help, but the good news is that it was likely doing exactly what it should be.
White-tailed deer fawns are typically born anytime between now and late June. For the first 2-3 weeks of their life, fawns are not strong enough to follow their mother and will lie very still to reduce the chance of being found. To keep attention away from the fawn, the mother will stay away most of the day, visiting the fawn a few times to feed, clean or move them to a new spot.
Staying curled up and alone is a natural behavior that protects fawns from predators. Their spotted coat and minimal scent help them blend into their environment and keep them safe.
That’s why if you spot a fawn alone, remember: a young wild animal’s best chance of survival is with its mother. Don’t touch or move the fawn, give it plenty of space and keep pets away so the mother feels it is safe to return. Fawns have specialized dietary needs that are not easily met, and they need to learn normal social behaviors from their mothers.
Learn more about the natural behaviors of Wisconsin’s wildlife on our Keep Wildlife Wild webpage: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/orphan
