Found a fawn or young wild animal – what to do?
Fawns and young hares spend most of the day alone. The mother only comes to suckle them – and only when no human is near.
What to do now
- Do not touch it. Walk on immediately, put your dog on a lead.
- The animal only needs help if it is injured, squeaks loudly and persistently, is covered in flies – or the mother lies dead nearby.
- Then: note the location, inform the police (110) or the local hunter, or call a wildlife rescue centre.
- If a fawn lies in a meadow that is about to be mown: speak to the farmer and call the local fawn rescue.
Please do not
- Do not stroke it or pick it up: if it smells of humans, the doe may no longer accept it.
- Do not take it with you. You may not take possession of game – not even to rescue it.
- Do not wait nearby to see “whether the mother comes”. As long as you are there, she will not.
Who helps
Hunting tenants (reachable through the police), wildlife rescue centres, the local fawn rescue.
Report an emergency Animal rescue near you
Frequent questions
I have already touched the fawn.
Rub it down with a tuft of grass, put it back and leave at once. Usually it turns out fine.
Related
This page gives general advice. It replaces neither a vet nor legal advice.
More guides
- Wild animal foundFound a wild animal – who helps?
- Finding an emergency vetEmergency vet – how to find one at night and at the weekend
- Hedgehog foundFound a hedgehog – what to do?
- Bird foundFound a young or injured bird – what to do?
- Dog foundFound a stray dog – what to do?
- Cat turned upA cat has turned up or been found – what to do?
- Pet run awayDog or cat has run away – what to do?
- Collision with wildlifeCollision with wildlife: deer or wild boar hit – what to do?
- Dog in a hot carDog in a hot car – what to do?
- Report animal crueltyReporting animal cruelty or neglect – how does it work?
- Poison bait foundFound poison bait – and what if the dog has already eaten some?
- Injured pigeonFound an injured pigeon – what to do?
- Squirrel foundFound a squirrel – what to do?
- Bat foundFound a bat – what to do?
- Young hare foundFound a young hare or wild rabbit – what to do?
- Injured swan or duckFound an injured swan, duck or goose – what to do?
- Cat hit by a carCat hit by a car or found at the roadside – what to do?
- Abandoned animal foundFound an abandoned animal – what to do?
Spreading the word helps
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