05/12/2026
FAWN SEASON PSA -- THE FAWN YOU SEE ALONE IS NOT ABANDONED. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE. PLEASE READ AND SHARE.
It is now fawn season on the island. New babies are popping up everywhere. If you find a fawn alone and uninjured, don’t worry! With the rare exception of a confirmed deceased mother … this is completely normal. Quickly move away and stay away. Mom is nearby and will come back once people are gone.
Female deer leave their fawns alone for most of the day for the first few weeks, returning only to feed them for brief periods. This ensures she does not draw predator attention to the fawn. Newborn fawns have very little scent and are born with natural camouflage to hide them when they are lying on the ground.
Fawns spend much of their time alone, quietly waiting for their mothers to return. Sometimes, this is in grass or woods, but mothers also commonly leave babies in yards or driveways.
There is also nothing wrong with a fawn that does not try to move away from its hiding spot. When a fawn senses danger, its instinct/defense mechanism is to go quiet -- it will lower its head and drop its ears, become still, and its breathing will become very slow. People often mistake this behavior for injury, weakness, or illness, but it is healthy behavior for a fawn, and they will soon return to normal when given space.
If you are unsure if a fawn needs help or come across a fawn that MAY be injured or orphaned, have questions, or need some assurances about a fawn you are worried about, please move away from the baby and call or text Haven at (206) 876-9652 before intervening!
***NOTE: The wildlife arm of Haven does not provide direct care or rehab for wild animals. We offer community support through direct response to wildlife situations, guidance on living with wildlife and problem-solving, connection and consultation with species-appropriate rehab facilities, and assistance in transporting an animal to a rehabilitator when needed. ***
