Fawn season 2020

Apr 28, 2020

by Anne Drummond

Along with warmer, brighter days and burgeoning vegetation growth, deer fawning season is beginning, with the first fawns already sighted in Oak Bay and other municipalities.

During September and October 2019 an immuno-contraceptive was administered to 60 does, all of whom are marked with numbered or coloured ear tags. In addition, a control group of 20 does who did not receive the immuno-contraceptive are marked with a coloured collar and large pink tags attached to the collar.

We are expecting that only the control group of does and any other does that did not receive the immuno-contraceptive will give birth. So this season we are anticipating a reduction in births by 60-90 fawns.

Does are very protective of their fawns and if threatened will defend their youngsters. A human waving their arms and yelling at a doe, and merely the presence of dogs (whether leashed or unleashed, seems threatening to their fawns safety – even if you can’t see the fawns nearby.  So in the interests of avoiding interactions with protective does we recommend the following behaviours when walking your dog or strolling the neighbourhood streets:

• Avoid eye contact – this can be seen as challenging behaviour.
• Remain quiet – waving your arms and yelling is threatening to the doe, causing the mother to feel even more protective of her fawn
• Cross the street – rather than confronting the deer, cross the road to avoid contact
• Change your route – if a deer appears to be following you, try changing direction. You may unknowingly be walking toward a hidden fawn.
• Keep your dog near you – dogs are natural threats to deer, regardless of their size, age, or demeanour. Not only is it important to keep your dog leashed when out walking where deer are in the neighbourhood, but when you see a deer, keep your dog near you as you walk. Never release the leash to let the dog chase the deer away. 
• If you find a fawn, leave it alone – does shelter fawns from predators, leaving for long periods to forage, then returning for fawns to suckle. Because fawns are born without scent, for the first few weeks does may feed and sleep a considerable distance from the fawn to reduce the chance of attracting predators. BC SPCA’s WildARC receives numerous calls from people who have found an “orphaned” fawn, but typically advise residents to leave it alone – the mother is likely nearby and will return once you leave. However, if the fawn is dirty, smelly and has flies around it, or is bleeding and obviously injured, or is shivering, thin, disoriented, and bleating call WildArc as soon as you can. In addition, if a doe does not return to a seemingly healthy fawn for more than eight hours call WildArc as something may have happened to the doe. If you do find a fawn in distress do not attempt to move it, unless it is on a road or in an otherwise unsafe place. If you inadvertently handled the animal, rub an old towel on the grass, then gently wipe the fawn down with it to remove human scent.
• When driving – especially at dawn and dusk, reduce your chance of hitting a deer by slowing down and scanning both sides of the road.  Stay alert and focused and remember that deer are rarely alone – when one crosses the road others will usually follow. Headlights blind and confuse deer and cause them to freeze or act unpredictably. Young inexperienced deer may not recognize vehicles as a threat. Deer do not understand what honking your horn means and may be startled into running into the road.

For more tips on living with Urban Deer visit UWSS.ca

BCSPCA WildArc. 855 622 7722.  1020 Malloch rd. Victoria