Do not disturb fawns

Ihad quite a few people contact me lately asking me to remind people to not disturb any fawns that they may find.

It is that time of year and most does have had their fawns.

They will lay up for a few days once the baby deer arrives and eventually they will be seen walking the road sides or in pastures.

Those are rare sightings as does will hide their fawns so mom can catch up on eating.

Deer will not keep their fawns close by as predators will follow deer to find a fawn for an easy meal.

Fawns will be found hidden in thickets, near water and in tall grass such as hay fields.

Checking your hay fields before the grass is cut is important.

They can also be found near your yard, especially if you have dogs.

Domestic dog smell keeps foxes, coyotes and other predators from hanging around so that helps the chances of survival of a baby deer when they are most vulnerable.

Fawn survival rates are only about 50 percent.

For every baby deer you see, another one will fall victim to predators, losing their mom to a vehicle collision or being hit by a car themselves.

If a doe is killed, her fawn will most likely perish once she is not around to protect it.

Deer will be active once fawns are able to travel and need to forage for food. Please watch roadways for does and fawns.

If a doe crosses, there is probably a fawn right behind her.

Not only will you save a life, you will also save money on an insurance claim.

Please watch the roads, ditches and highways and slow down.

If you see a fawn, please leave it alone.

Yes, they are cute, and yes, they are soft, but they were hidden by their mom and mom will come back for them.

Leaving your scent on a fawn can cause her to not want to come back.

If you see one, wait at least 12 hours and check back.

If the fawn is still there, check again another 12 hours later.

If the fawn is still there, contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission so that a wildlife officer can check on the fawn's welfare.

They can determine whether it is sick, injured or needs to be taken to a certified wildlife rehabilitator.

They are not pets and it is illegal to keep them as pets. The main key to healthy deer herd population begins with fawn survival.

Do your part and don't interfere with mother nature.