05/17/2026
Due to numerous calls regarding “abandoned” or “injured” deer fawns, we would like to pass on the following message from the Pennsylvania Game Commission in regards to how to handle the situation if you were come upon one in your yard or neighborhood.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission strongly advises leaving newborn fawns alone if you find them in the woods or your yard. Mother deer intentionally hide their young to protect them from predators. If you encounter a baby deer, do not touch or attempt to move it. Please resist the urge to invite neighbors, friends, children to take a look. The longer people are present around the fawn, the longer the mother is going to stay away and adds stress to the fawn.
Why Fawns Are Found Alone
• Natural Behavior: During their first few weeks, fawns are too weak to outrun predators. They survive by staying completely still and relying on their natural camouflage and lack of scent.
• Absent Mothers: The mother doe is usually nearby, grazing or watching from a distance. She purposely stays away to avoid drawing predators to her hidden baby, only returning a few times a day to nurse.
• Human Scent: While the myth that a mother will reject a fawn touched by humans is exaggerated, handling a fawn causes them severe stress and may cause them to flee and expose themselves to predators.
When to Intervene
You should only contact the Game Commission or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if you see a fawn that is:
• Visibly Injured: Open wounds, broken bones, or obvious distress.
• Unresponsive: Lying listless for extended periods or covered in flies or maggots.
• In Immediate Danger: Trapped in a window well, stuck in a fence, or in the middle of a busy roadway.
• Orphaned: Found next to a dead doe for an extended period, or crying continuously for hours.
How to Contact the Authorities
If you believe a fawn meets the criteria for rescue, do not take it home. Instead, report it to the proper local authorities:
• PA Game Commission: Call your nearest PGC Regional Office or dial 1-833-PGC-WILD.
• Wildlife Rehabilitators: Find a certified local wildlife rescue professional via the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators to handle transportation and care safely.
