Are Fawns in Iowa Really Being Abandoned?

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I happened to see several friends on social media post photos and posts saying that they'd found a fawn. Some of these babies were out in the open and in plain sight. Many fear that the fawns have been abandoned for some reason by their mother.

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, they get an influx of calls this time of year from people finding fawns and fearing that they have been abandoned. But rest assured, this is not the case. The DNR notes that a fawn's main self-defense is to lay motionless and blend in with its surroundings. The mother is probably nearby hiding, waiting for you to leave so she can continue caring for her young.

The fawning season is in full swing in Iowa and will peak in early June. So why are some fawns left out in the open? DNR officials say that the doe will search out a location that makes her feel safe. Sometimes those locations don't appear to be ideal, but they made sense to the deer at the time. Officials say the worst thing you can do is try and 'rescue' a deer.

Many wonder why fawns have spots. As we mentioned earlier, a fawn's self-defense is to blend in. The DNR states that the spots on a fawn are meant to look like sun spots on leaves and the forest floor. The fawn's lack of movement also lessens its scent trail during the first few weeks of its life. As cute and defenseless as we may think these little animals are, the best thing to do if you see one is to walk away.

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