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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Need Critter Advice
        
(Message started by: pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 9:56am)

Title: Need Critter Advice
Post by pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 9:56am

This little guy has been across from my house for a week now, and no parent in sight. With winter coming on in a few weeks, I'm really concerned about it. Has anyone helped a fawn in a situation like this?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/northcolor/fawn.jpg

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by Melissa on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:07am

Can you call the DNR and see where the nearest wildlife station is? They'd be able to help you out. I know we have one up here, actually several private owners too, that take in fawns who've lost their mothers.

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by Paul98 on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:07am

Try contacting animal control. By the looks of it it is old enough to forrage but still might be nursing if the mother were around. I doubt you would be able to get near it. Animal control will probably bring it to a rehab place where it would be looked after until it was old enough to be set free.

If animal control isn't interested you could buy whole corn or a grain mix from a feed store and leave it out for him.

-P.

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by The mad viking on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:15am

feed it with carrots,apples and potatoes They do love that
But NEVER try touch them
the smell of a human can only do it worse,IF the mom is hiding somewhere

We have a field at the far end at our summerhouse we put things like that for the deers

And its really exiting to sit on the stairs in the morning just looking at them while having a cup of coffe

Svenn

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by maffumatt on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:20am

Eat it.

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by Melissa on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:23am

[smiley=ohjez.gif]

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by Kevin_M on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:26am

on 09/07/06 at 10:15:10, The mad viking wrote:

IF the mom is hiding somewhere

This Summer there were a pair of fawns that laid alone on the grassy hillside across the road from my cottage. But I've seen them cutting through the woods later with a doe when it was quiet in the early evening, hard to notice. Seeing them alone I knew the mother was in the woods nearby, when they saw me walk toward the road once, they would look back toward the woods for a sign from Mom.
The picture seems like it is growing healthy for a week alone, content, curious, alert. Good to take notice in case it is an orphan, Patti.

;)

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:31am

Thanks Mel, Paul, and Svenn. Matt....http://www.transcending-bliss.net/xmb/images/smilies/fryingpan.gif

;;D I just got off the phone with someone at the DNR, and he thinks that as long as it isn't injured, it could do fine. If it decides to stick around, I'll consider feeding it this winter--the
snow gets pretty deep around here. Sure wish I had never watched "Bambi", lol.

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by georgej on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:32am

From the photo, he looks quite healthy--not at all scrawned out. He'll most likely be fine. In fact, his mother may be around but not much in evidence. Mothers often leave even their new fawns for extended periods of time--F&G is inundated with calls in the spring about abandoned fawns who are not really abandoned at all.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by maffumatt on Sep 7^th, 2006, 10:34am

you know I was kidding.......Don't make it dependent on you though, if it loses its fear of humans it will be an easy mark for hunters. By the look of it from your picture its doing fine. If its coat becomes disheveled, thats when you know its in need of help.
Matt

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by jimmers on Sep 7^th, 2006, 11:03am

If this is a recent photo (Sept.) It seems that this particular deer is what we call a late fawn. The spots on a fawn born in May are usually gone by now and the deer should weigh about 60-70 lbs by now. Sometimes Does are bred late (Dec.) and late fawns born in July are the result. It should be fine if the winters are not real bad where you live and it can find adequate browse.

Jimmers

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by vig on Sep 7^th, 2006, 11:16am

beautiful pic Patti,
I hope it thrives under your watch!

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by alchemy on Sep 7^th, 2006, 11:33am

That is a beautiful pic. That deer looks like it's doing great. I think moms around they just don't like to be visible.

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 11:34am

Kev and George and Jim, thanks for your thoughts. Jimmers, I took the pic two days ago, so it's a late fawn. But the pickin's are pretty good around here at the park, so it will probably be fine. I'm taking Matt's advice--in the long run, it's not good for the animal to become dependent or unafraid of us carnivores. Glad you liked the photo, Paul. ;;D

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by medic1852 on Sep 7^th, 2006, 2:04pm

on 09/07/06 at 10:20:57, maffumatt wrote:

Eat it.

Second the motion...Young deer be tender yummm!
Rodger

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 2:19pm

No meat on his bones yet, Rodge.....he needs to get fattened up :P

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by tanner on Sep 7^th, 2006, 2:21pm

Rodger, first off I don't know why but I have not seen much of you lately and I miss ya bro!

ok enough of the mushy stuff ;;D

I managed a private 1500 acre hunting operation on the VA, MD border for 9 yrs. The owner placed all of the land under a program called legacy which keeps it from ever being developed and designates it as a game mangement area. The fawn in question will herd up and survive even if its mommy is gone. if you were to call dnr they would tell you to leave it be and not try to domesticate it. if you have a big enough property you can look around for the area with the most winter feed (acorns) and place a salt lick there to show the deer in the area where to go (but they very likely already know)

hope you and yours are well and putting up firewood for the winter. give the hogs something to do ;).....Tim

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by JeffB on Sep 7^th, 2006, 2:21pm

Svenn was on the right track with carrots, apples and potatoes. Just need to marinate the meat with a good red wine, beer, spices and cook slowly on the weber!

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by medic1852 on Sep 7^th, 2006, 3:27pm

on 09/07/06 at 14:21:17, tanner wrote:

Rodger, first off I don't know why but I have not seen much of you lately and I miss ya bro!

Well I have been playing an online game called rune scape. But had been reading the posts and keeping track. Then my monitor died. So I could not see anything.
Then the young deer got my attention since hunting season is right around the corner. And yes that young deer has some meat on its bones...dont be fooled. The loins the loins....my mouth is watering!!

Rodger

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by Ghost on Sep 7^th, 2006, 3:36pm

Just get me within 100 yards and it will no longer be a problem and I aint kidding. ;;D ;)

Mike

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by pattik on Sep 7^th, 2006, 4:02pm

on 09/07/06 at 15:36:13, Ghost wrote:

Just get me within 100 yards and it will no longer be a problem and I aint kidding. ;;D ;)

Now thats a pretty picture.....a goat chasing a deer. 8)

Title: Re: Need Critter Advice
Post by burnt-toast on Sep 7^th, 2006, 7:52pm

From the picture its a healty fawn. If left alone it really will do fine - even if its mother isn't around anymore.

Its hard to tell from the pic. but it looks like a button next to its right ear which would make it a yearling buck.

At this time of year its mother has most likely chased him off and is preparing herself for the breeding season.

If it sticks around (and a good practice with all wild animals) feed it only if there are extended deep snows and extreme cold. It needs to fend for itself and if it becomes too dependent on handouts you will actually hurt its chances for survival.

Tom