This is the time of year when new born fawns begin to appear.
Though they may appear to be alone and abandoned the mother just maybe the off foraging for food and will return to her fawn.
“A doe can leave her fawn for up to 48 hours,” said Warren Warttig, MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre president and professional biologist. “The new born may not be an orphan. And if, through good intentions, the fawn is captured and taken to a wildlife refuge – it’s just like kidnapping.”
Each year, the wildlife centre rescues and cares for young fawns until they can be released to the wild. Last year, MARS rescued and cared for 30 fawns until they were old enough to be released to the wild again.
“If you find a fawn that is abandoned or orphaned, call us and we will rescue the deer,” said Wildlife Rescue Coordinator Reg Westcott. “We can care for these young deer and prepare them for release when they are ready to go.”
MARS, a licensed and regulated facility, has provided rescues, rehabilitation, recovery and release for injured and orphaned wildlife in central and northern Vancouver Island since 1995.
With more than 800 cases in 2015, this volunteer powered, donor funded organization is building a new, larger hospital and recovery centre in the Comox Valley.
