Vigilance necessary when keeping an eye out for fawns
With summer creeping upon us, I wanted to remind everyone to keep an eye out for new fawns.
I know most people have had to mow regularly with the steady flow of rain showers.
A good number of people have larger acreage and have to use bush hogs and box blades to clean out overgrowth.
If you would, please have someone walk in front of you or check the tall grassy areas before you do any bush hogging or mowing.
Fawns will be in tall grass away from their mothers in order for the does to eat.
They are easy to miss and are diligent to stay still even if they hear a loud noise nearby.
If you are getting ready to cut a hayfield, having someone to watch for fawns bedded down is easy.
Walking 10-15 paces ahead of the tractor is a safe and easy way to prevent hitting and injuring a small fawn.
Drivers can also reduce the number of injured fawns.
If you are driving and a doe is standing along the road or crosses the road, please slow down.
Once fawns are more mobile, they will follow their mothers, especially when crossing roads.
After the doe crosses, one or two fawns could be right behind her and run into the road. Your insurance agent will thank you for looking twice and slowing down.
You may also see more deer activity around your house right now, especially if you live near wooded areas or in the rural areas.
Deer know that coyotes, bobcats and other predators will not come close to where humans and dogs are present.
Does may be hanging close to your yard to keep their fawns safe from predators.
Most fawn deaths occur in the first 6-8 weeks of life.
Their chance of surviving their first year can depend your actions and not forcing deer from your property.
They are only using it for a short time to allow fawns to grow stronger.
Also, if you see a fawn, do not assume you can take it home as a new pet.
Wildlife can no longer be taken unless you are a licensed rehabilitator. If you see a fawn, leave it alone. The mother is probably close by. If you see one is alone, check back a few hours later to see if it is still there.
If the fawn is still there after 24 hours, contact a wildlife officer and they can assist you.
Do not touch or hang around the fawn. Leaving your scent around too much can deter the doe from returning as quickly to retrieve her fawn.
Does leave them hidden away from them to hide them from predators while they find a place to eat and get some water.
Also, raccoons are having litters.
If you see a raccoon in the daylight, it doesn’t mean they have rabies.
Raccoons are active at night and after mom tends to her 2-4 babies all night long, she has to look for food in the daytime while they sleep.
Nighttime falls and she is back to teaching them how to find food and hide from predators.
If you see a raccoon during the day, it is most likely a very tired momma that just needs a break from her kids that are asleep somewhere.
Do not shoot her.
If you really think you have seen a raccoon acting funny and constantly coming out during the day, contact a wildlife officer.
Questions? Pictures? Comments? Send them to katiem@eldoradonews.com.