In late May and June, it’s common to come across deer fawns or elk calves in Utah’s wilderness. These young animals are often found alone, leading to the mistaken belief that they have been abandoned. However, according to Dax Mangus, the big game coordinator for the Utah DWR, this is rarely the case.

“Newborn fawns are actually frequently alone and isolated during their first weeks of life — and that’s on purpose,” Mangus explains. “The mother knows that leaving the fawn alone is the best way to protect it from predators.”

Newborn big game animals fall into two categories: followers and hiders. Bison calves and bighorn sheep lambs are followers, meaning they stay close to their mothers shortly after birth. In contrast, mule deer fawns and elk calves are hiders, staying hidden and alone for most of the day during their first two to three weeks of life.

Doe deer will reunite with their fawns briefly to nurse and care for them before leaving again to feed and rest. This hiding strategy helps fawns stay safe from predators. After a few weeks, the fawns grow strong enough to accompany their mothers more regularly.

Fawns are born with a creamy brown coat covered in white spots, providing excellent camouflage in their natural surroundings. Additionally, fawns emit very little scent, making it difficult for predators to detect them.

If you come across a deer fawn or an elk calf that appears to be alone, here’s what you should do:

1. **Don’t approach it**: Observe or photograph the animal from a distance, but avoid getting close. In nearly all cases, the mother is nearby and will return to her young.

2. **Don’t touch or pet it**: Touching newborn animals can leave your scent on them, attracting predators and endangering the animal’s life. Their survival depends on remaining undetected.

3. **Give it plenty of space**: Getting too close can cause the fawn or calf to run away, wasting crucial energy they need for survival.

4. **Never attempt to remove a fawn or calf from the wild**: Taking a baby deer or elk home can be fatal for the animal and create safety risks as it grows. It is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity and can result in a class A misdemeanor. If you believe an animal is injured or sick, report it to the nearest DWR office.

“Keeping your distance and not touching wildlife are essential to keeping young animals alive,” Mangus said. “Attempting to take matters into your own hands and trying to ‘help’ wildlife usually does more harm than good. Help wildlife by allowing them to remain wild.”

For more tips on safely living with wildlife, visit the Wild Aware Utah website at https://wildawareutah.org.

As you enjoy Utah’s beautiful outdoors this summer, remember that leaving wildlife undisturbed is the best way to ensure their survival and your safety.