DNR: Don't Touch Deer Fawns

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Spring has sprung which means many animals are giving birth to their young, including deer.

Now, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding Minnesotans to leave deer fawns alone.

The DNR is asking people not disturb or pick  up any fawns they may see, even if they appear to be abandoned.

"We understand people often have good intentions, but we want people to know that fawns survive best without intervention," leader of the DNR big game program, Adam Murkowski, said.

The DNR said fawns do not attempt to evade predators during the first few weeks of life. Their defense is to stay still and try to avoid being seen.

During these weeks, fawns are learning survival skills from their mothers and being separated can be extremely detrimental to their development.

While people may believe that a fawn has been abandoned, Murkowski said it is very normal for mothers to leave their young along for long periods of time.

Additionally, mothers will generally not feed their young if they know people are around.

Murkowski asked for people to remember their intervention can cause fawns to lose their natural fear of humans and can often lead to death for the deer.