Leave deer alone in fawning season, wildlife o cials say

Some people see normal situation and mistake it for abandonment

BY SHEA VANCE SVANCE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the weather warms, locals and tourists alike ock to Colorado’s state parks, some hoping to catch a glimpse of the abundance of wildlife. At the same time, fawning season — the time between May and June during which female deer give birth — is currently in full swing.

Although it is a beautiful time of year to observe fawns and other wildlife at a distance, recent human interference with babies in the south metro area, more so than in years past, is posing a serious threat to the young animal families.

When a doe gives birth to — or drops — her fawn, she leaves the newborn alone for a few days to collect food. e mother knows the fawn does not yet have a scent, protecting it from predators for a short period in its infancy.

According to Kara Van Hoose, public information o cer for the northeast branch of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, some people see these fawns alone and attempt to help them by moving them, a critical error that has irreversible consequences for the young deer.

“ e fawns are by themselves for up to two days at a time, and people see these fawns by themselves in the wild and think they’re abandoned or orphaned, and will try to move the fawns themselves, or feed them,” Van Hoose said. “ ey have really

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