Fawn Information    
     This is the time of year when you may see a fawn or fawns lying beside a road, in a park, in the forest or in a field.  They are adorable and so sweet and the temptation is almost overwhelming to pet them or pick them up, especially if you don't see mommy deer (doe) anywhere around.  You might believe that her absence indicates abandonment.  However, there is important information you should know before you approach a fawn.  A fawn is born without a scent, in other words, predators cannot smell them and therefore they are at a greatly lessened risk for an attack.  Once you touch a fawn, even with a glove, they are now visible (by scent) to any predator close by.  " But," you say, " mommy deer hasn't been around to feed for a long time, the baby is hungry and abandoned."  Know that does will leave their babies for up to 12 hours.  And just because you don't see the doe around the fawn doesn't mean she hasn't been back, sometimes they feed baby at night.  Imagine how upset a mommy deer would be to find that her baby is gone from where she left it...poor sad mommy.
     So when IS it okay to pickup a fawn?  
          1.  When the doe is confirmed dead
          2.  When the fawn is injured
          3.  When the fawn is walking around crying
     If the fawn meets any of this criteria, gently pick them up (if injured wrap carefully in a blanket to help prevent shock), and bring them to our office.  Ponti's has a license to care, rehab and release wildlife.  If possible, give us a call letting us know you're on your way. We receive no funding of any kind to care for any of our wildlife, so we ask that you make a donation...for fawns, $100.00 if you can manage it. However, we are grateful for whatever you can donate.
                                                         REMEMBER
                              IT IS ILLEGAL TO KEEP A FAWN