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Temporary Care for Baby Deer

First contact a wildlife rehabilitator. While you are waiting to hear back, the following instructions will keep the baby deer safe and comfortable.

What to Do While You Wait. Get the Deer:

A Dark, Quiet Place

Keep the baby deer in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For deer, a large cardboard box or size appropriate plastic dog kennel is perfect. The deer should be able to comfortably stand and turn around while inside. Keeping the container in a basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom is an excellent spot. The area should be exceptionally quiet.

Keep children, pets, and people away from the room the deer is in. Remember that they are orphaned and frightened, and we want to keep their stress down as much as possible. Unlike our pets, wild animals are not comforted by people talking to them, petting them, or looking at them.

 

A Heat Source

Although fawns are not normally kept warm by a nest or a parent in the wild, orphaned deer are often in poor physical condition and can benefit from a heat source. Keeping them warm will reduce stress on their system, once their body doesn’t have to fight to keep its temperature up. Placing a heating pad set on “low” underneath half of the container should be adequate.

If no heating pad is available, place the container close to an ambient heat source where possible, such as a spacer heater or radiator (6 inches away, or according to manufacturer’s safety instructions).

Other heat sources (e.g. microwavable heat bags or hot water bottles) that need to be frequently replaced are not recommended with this species, due to the stress to the babies caused by repeatedly opening the container.

No Food or Water

This is a tough one, because our first instinct is often to try to give food or water to an animal we’ve found. Until you’ve spoke to a wildlife rehabilitator, there are some really good reasons not to give the baby deer food or water.

Why Shouldn’t I feed them?

  • White-tailed Deer have particularly sensitive digestive systems and require a special diet; eating inappropriate foods can put them in danger, leading to sickness or death.
  • If the deer is dehydrated, starving, or suffering from trauma, their body may not be strong enough to digest food. Trying to feed them can cause bloating, shock, or death.
  • Trying to force-feed food or water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
  • Once you get the baby deer to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess its condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been eating. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat the night before an appointment.

Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the baby deer some food please follow their advice.

Why shouldn’t I give them water?

  • If the deer is injured and having trouble standing, or if they panic trying to get out, they could tip over the water dish and get themselves wet, leading to hypothermia.
  • Trying to force-feed water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
  • Once you get the baby deer to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess its condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been eating or drinking. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat the night before an appointment.

Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the baby deer some water please follow their advice.

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