06/29/2026
This time of year marks one of the busiest and often most overwhelming periods for wildlife rehabilitators. Spring babies are now old enough to begin exploring, which unfortunately brings an increase in injuries, orphaning, and human intervention. We're flooded with calls from well-meaning people who find young animals and aren't sure whether they actually need help.
That's why we share so much educational content here: to help you determine whether intervention is truly necessary. Remember, if an animal doesn't actually need rescuing, what you're doing may unintentionally become a kidnapping.
We're also seeing a sharp rise in wildlife being hit by cars, especially fawns. Our HBC (hit by car) caseload skyrockets this time of year, and unfortunately, the prognosis in many of these trauma cases is poor.
The recent heatwave, combined with periods of rain and high humidity, has also created ideal conditions for another serious threat: flystrike.
🪰 What is flystrike?
Flystrike often begins as tiny yellowish specks that resemble grains of rice or sawdust, usually around the hindquarters where grooming may be insufficient, but they are often found on the belly, hocks, and hooves as well. Flies are attracted to warm, moist areas, especially around f***s or other organic material. During periods of high heat and humidity, those eggs can hatch into maggots in as little as eight hours.
Contrary to popular belief, flystrike is often the original source of the wound rather than maggots simply finding an existing injury. Once the eggs hatch, the maggots begin destroying living tissue, causing extensive damage in a very short period of time. A seemingly healthy fawn can deteriorate rapidly if flystrike isn't recognized early.
🚨 If you only remember one thing from this post, remember this: fly eggs can hatch in as little as eight hours. Early intervention saves lives.
⏱️ Time matters. Fly eggs don't wait for a rehabilitator to arrive. During hot, humid weather, every hour can make the difference between a treatable patient and one that is suffering beyond recovery. This is where we need your help.
Wildlife rehabilitators are often caring for dozens of patients at once, responding to multiple emergencies, and most are volunteering their time while coordinating around their full-time jobs. We simply cannot drop everything and immediately drive to every animal in need.
This isn't about convenience. It's about urgency.
By the time we're able to reach every caller, those eggs may have already hatched. That's why we sometimes have to rely on the public to help bridge the gap while arrangements are being made.
⚠️ If you find a fawn covered in fly eggs:
• It does not automatically mean the fawn is orphaned. In fact, on multiple occasions we've had people see the mom still in the area. The gap between her returning to nurse and groom her fawn was simply long enough for flies to begin targeting the baby. In cases like that, where only fly eggs are present and there are no open wounds, we often rely on the public to help treat the fawn in the field so they can remain with their mom in nature.
• Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Send photos, videos if possible, and a description of what you're seeing.
• If the fawn is calm and can be handled safely, put on gloves and begin removing the fly eggs while they are still dry. Use your fingers or a soft grooming tool such as a flea comb, toothbrush, or bottle brush. Do not wet the eggs first. Moisture can accelerate hatching.
• Work quietly. Excessive talking, handling, or a crowd of people is terrifying to wild animals. If possible, only one or two people should be assisting the fawn.
• Once the eggs are removed, warm water and Dawn dish soap do a great job of removing f***l matter that continues to attract flies. Thoroughly rinse away all soap and towel dry the fawn as best you can. However, if the fawn is panicked and trying to escape, or the opposite, weak and lethargic, skip this step. Additional stress is not worth the risk.
• If only eggs or freshly hatched surface-level maggots were present, and all have been completely removed, leave the fawn in the same general area but move them several feet away from your work area since flies will likely continue to investigate that location. A shaded spot nearby works well during hot weather. Then step away and allow time for reuniting. This may take several hours. Monitor from a distance. Repeatedly walking outside to check on the fawn only creates additional stress.
If several hours have passed and flies continue targeting the fawn, or if their condition changes and they become noticeably weaker, contact the licensed wildlife rehabilitator again with an update.
While waiting for instructions:
• Place the fawn in a crate or sturdy box lined with towels and keep them in a dark, quiet, temperature-controlled location away from people and pets.
• Feel the ears and lower legs. If they are noticeably cold, hypothermia is a concern and the fawn should be warmed slowly. This does not mean placing them in direct sunlight. Use towels or blankets along with a heating pad set on low with a towel between it and the fawn, or use hand warmers or hot water bottles wrapped in socks to prevent burns. If possible, tuck the legs close to the body to help conserve warmth.
• Do not hold, pet, or repeatedly check on them. Humans are natural predators, and excessive handling and stress can lead to capture myopathy, a life-threatening condition that can be fatal even after the initial emergency has passed.
• Do not feed the fawn. If they're alert enough to drink on their own, you may offer a shallow dish of fresh water or diluted, unflavored Pedialyte. Never force food or fluids into their mouth. Do not bottle-feed or offer any type of milk. If the fawn is dehydrated, hypothermic, or otherwise ill, they cannot properly digest food. Milk can spoil in the stomach, contribute to diarrhea, and quickly worsen an already critical situation.
Regarding flystrike, if the animal is calm, getting a head start on removing dry fly eggs can dramatically improve their chances of survival before they ever reach a rehabilitator. Sometimes, if flystrike is caught early enough, the fawn may not need to be removed from the wild at all. That's the best-case scenario, and it's made possible by people willing to get their hands dirty (literally), while following the guidance of licensed wildlife rehabilitators. It can be an incredibly rewarding experience knowing you played a role in keeping a wild animal with their mama in nature, exactly where they belong.
Unfortunately, some animals are simply too advanced by the time they're found. There is an important difference between knowing when to treat and when to prevent further suffering.
Every case of flystrike should first be evaluated through photos or video by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator familiar with that species. While every situation is unique, experienced rehabilitators can often recognize which cases are likely treatable and which are not.
If an animal has a well-established maggot infestation, especially if maggots are embedded in tissue, emerging from body openings, or covering large portions of the body, the prognosis is extremely poor despite emergency treatment. At that stage, the animal is literally being consumed alive.
We witness suffering every single day, and we've learned to recognize the signs that tell us when an animal can recover and when they cannot. If the wildlife rehabilitator recommends bringing the animal to a veterinarian as a Good Samaritan for humane euthanasia, please understand that recommendation comes from experience and compassion, not convenience. Although heartbreaking, preventing prolonged suffering is one of the greatest gifts we can give a wild animal.
It's also important to remember that many fawns suffering from flystrike still have their mom nearby. Unfortunately, once maggots become established, there is nothing she can do to save them. That's why recognizing fly eggs early, removing them promptly, and contacting a rehabilitator immediately can truly mean the difference between life and death.
The most important thing you can do is stay calm, minimize the animal's stress, and ask for guidance. Working together gives these animals their best chance.
Thank you for supporting your local wildlife rehabilitators. Every rescue is a team effort, and your willingness to learn, act appropriately, and lend a hand truly saves lives.
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If a wildlife rehabilitator has ever helped you, your family, or an animal you cared about, whether through phone guidance, reuniting advice, hands-on rehabilitation, or educational content, please consider supporting their work with a donation. Even a few dollars can make a difference.
Wildlife rehabilitators do not receive government funding. The countless hours, specialized knowledge, supplies, and resources required for this work are often provided on a volunteer basis and can only be sustained through community support.
Soulshine Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that runs entirely on donations. We are also the only facility licensed for fawn rehabilitation in our county. Without your generosity, the work we do would not be possible. Thank you for your support!
Mailing Address: PO Box 354, Sparta, MI 49345
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