In the past two weeks, Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) has been swamped with fawns.
As of June 10, we have received 11 fawns, and we anticipate even more in the weeks to come, as the breeding season for black tailed deer usually runs from June to September.
Already, each of these precious little creatures are consuming just over a litre of milk per day, and they could consume twice this amount as they get stronger prior to being weaned.
They are fed a specially-made powdered fawn milk formula supplemented with pasteurized goat’s milk and topped up with water. Unfortunately, this formula does not provide the antibodies that the mother provides through her milk, and, very often, the fawns develop diarrhea, which can weaken and dehydrate them.
The fawns will remain at MARS until they are eating some greenery on their own, at which time they will be transferred to a special fawn enclosure on nearby acreage where they will gradually be reintroduced to the wild.
Each year, we try to get across this important message of what to do if you find a fawn.
• Do not assume the fawn is abandoned
• Leave the fawn alone and watch from a distance unless you see the mother killed
• Fawns remain still when the mother is off hunting; they are often hidden in the grass
• Before assuming the fawn is an orphan, please call MARS at 1-800-304-9968
• Do not take a fawn home and try to feed it — you could “kill it with kindness”
• If you see a mother deer with one fawn crossing the road, expect another deer to follow
• Slow down at marked deer crossing signs
• If you find a fawn on the side of the road, move it to the safety of the nearby bushes or trees and check back in a few hours before intervening
We are really stretched for donations this year, having received 37 bald eagles so far and at present still having three eagles and seven fawns. In addition, we also have two red squirrels, six barred owls which include two owlets, four hummingbirds, eight mallard ducklings, four saw whet owls, one western screech owl, one hairy woodpecker and a menagerie of robins. Our estimated cost to raise the baby fawns will be $1,500, and we and would appreciate any donations if you would like to help us with our “baby wildlife season.” Visa, MasterCard, cheques or cash are gladly accepted.
For updates and further information, visit our website at www.wingtips.org or call 250-337-2021. We will update the fawns' progress on Facebook.
Sandy Fairfield is the educational co-ordinator for the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS).