It's Spring, which means lots of new babies on the Central Coast, including fawns. Every year, our SPCA Wildlife Center receives tiny fawns mistakenly kidnapped from their attentive mothers. This is because fawns spend the majority of their time curled up in a ball alone, and may appear to be abandoned when this is a normal part of their growing process.
Sadly, our community has already experienced tragic fawn fatalities due to people and dogs. One doe went into premature labor after being chased by a dog, who then attacked the tiny newborn. The fawn did not survive. Another pregnant doe lost twins after being harassed. Both of these tragic situations took place in Pacific Grove.
Mother deer leave their babies hidden and alone in a safe space during most of the day, often only visiting them during dawn and dusk. These fawns are not abandoned; the mother is likely out of sight watching you. If you find a fawn lying quietly in a curled up ball, leave it where it is, stay back and out of sight, and keep dogs as far away as possible. The mother will not return if she senses people or dogs are too close. A fawn lying quietly in a curled position on its stomach is not in need of rescue.
If you are worried that the fawn might be in distress, look for the following signs:
labored breathing
walking and vocalizing for over an hour
blood
clearly broken bones
lying prone on its side (rather than curled or on its stomach)
a deceased mother on site
If you see these signs, please do not rescue the fawn yourself. Call the SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center immediately at 831-264-5427. Once contacted, our technicians will evaluate the situation and give you instructions on how to proceed.
Do not attempt to rescue a fawn without the guidance of our technicians. Never bring a fawn into your home. Fawns are extremely sensitive to stress. The terror of being handled by humans and receiving any incorrect care or incorrect diet, even for just one day, severely decreases a fawn’s chances for survival and release.
To learn more or support our lifesaving work, please visit www.SPCAmc.org.
The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. We operate under permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Your support is extremely important to us, as we do not receive funding from any federal, state or local government agency. Each year, The SPCA Wildlife Center admits over 2,000 animals for treatment and care.
SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. The SPCA is not a chapter of any other agency and does not have a parent organization. They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress.
Online: www.SPCAmc.org
Facebook: /SPCAmc
Instagram: @SPCAmc
Twitter: @SPCAmc
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