05/11/2026
The deer are here!!! 🦌
As we begin a new fawn season, we wanted to share some tips from our friends at Valley Forge Park Alliance on what to do (and what NOT to do) if you come upon a fawn.
🦌 Fawn Season is Coming — What to Do (and NOT Do)
In late May and early June, you may come across a baby deer, or fawn, resting quietly on the ground. It might look alone, but it’s not.
Here’s the important part: leave it where it is.
White-tailed deer fawns use a hiding strategy to stay safe:
-They remain still and quiet to avoid predators
-Their spotted coats help them blend into the forest floor
-Mothers stay nearby but away to avoid drawing attention
For the first few weeks of life, fawns are meant to be alone and motionless; it’s how they survive.
🚫 Please do NOT:
-Touch or move the fawn
-Assume it’s abandoned
-Let dogs approach
Handling a fawn can actually increase the risk that its mother won’t return.
✅ The only exception:
If the fawn is clearly injured or in immediate danger, contact park staff.
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Image: Jennie Van D**e
