The advice from the Ministry of Environment for well-meaning people who want to rescue what appears to be orphaned, young animals, is not to touch them. In a news release the Ministry says many animals leave their young alone for long periods while they forage for food, or to protect them from predators. In most cases, these young animals are not abandoned at all.

The only time a young animals should be picked up is if the parent is found dead nearby, or if the animals is found in an unnatural situation, such as a baby bird on a doorstep. In that case, you would move the bird to the closest suitable habitat. Unless you believe the animal is in immediate danger, always call for advice before removing them from the wild.

Before concluding that a deer fawn is abandoned, ask yourself:
– Has it been lying in the same position for more than 10 hours?
– Is it vocal?
– Is it covered in insects?
– Is it wet, possibly covered by the morning dew?
If the answer to any of these is yes, the animal may have been there a while and needs help. If you can see obvious signs of injury or evidence that the animal has been orphaned, please contact your local conservation officer.