The Division of Wildlife Resources has a clear message for those who may come across a deer fawn or elk calf that may appear to be abandoned: Don’t approach it. Watch it or take a photo of it from a distance, but don’t go near it. In almost every case, the young animal has not been abandoned by its mother. Don’t touch it or pet it. Finding and petting newly born animals is a problem because the animal’s survival depends on it being left alone and undetected by predators. If you touch it, you may leave your scent on the animal, which could draw predators to it. Give it plenty of space. Even if you don’t touch the fawn or calf, getting too close can cause it to run away from you, resulting in the animal using energy it needs to survive. Never attempt to remove a fawn or calf from the wild or take it home. DWR conservation officers occasionally respond to instances where an individual has taken a baby deer or elk home to “care for it.” However, that often has fatal consequences for the animal and can also create public safety risks as the animal matures. It is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity and can result in a class A misdemeanor. If you believe that a baby animal is injured or sick, report it to the nearest DWR office. For more tips about how to safely live with wildlife, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.
