A top Scottish animal charity is asking people not to lift any little Bambis they come across in the wild – unless they are clearly sick or injured.
The Scottish SPCA made the plea after a number of the animals were accidentally removed from their mums by well-meaning members of the public.
The post on their social media pages is aimed at raising awareness that more often than not these fawns have been left there by their mothers while they forage for food, or even to search for a new nesting site.
The charity stated: "Mothers leave their fawns, sometimes for several hours, while they feed. A fawn's natural instinct is to lie curled up, quiet and still to avoid predators.
"You may think this is not a serious issue as the animals can be cared for by us but fawns are possibly the most complex and challenging animal we deal with at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre. In many cases removing that young animal from the wild is effectively a death sentence."
They added that because deers are prey animals, the stress of interacting with people can often see them struggle to cope in the SSPCA's rescue centres in what is known as capture myopathy.
"In many cases, fawns will simply refuse to feed as their fear of humans is too great and pass away from the stress of the situation, or need to euthanised due to their failure to thrive," The SSPCA explained. "This is incredibly difficult for the team at our National Wildlife Rescue Centre who, despite their best efforts, have to witness otherwise healthy animals die in what is an entirely avoidable situation."
The charity is hoping to remind members of the public to be #WildlifeWise and leave them where they find them.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity’s #WildlifeWise campaign was put in place to stop wild animals from becoming orphans unnecessarily.
The aim is to educate the public on when they should contact them about young wildlife.
Last year, the wildlife manager at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, Steve Gray, told the Daily Record: “We know that people have the best intentions but removing wild animals from their natural habitat can do more harm than good.
“Deer suffer from such extreme stress levels, more so than many other wild animals, that in some cases it can be life-threatening.
“By removing a fawn when there is no need to, it can cause great distress to mother and baby."
A mother will return to the fawn, sometimes after several hours, and feed it so if someone does return later and the fawn does not show any signs of needing help then it should be left alone.
Steve added: “In many cases, a fawn will not run away if approached, especially if mum has returned and fed them as they will be feeling sleepy. People can mistake this as a sign a fawn needs help when it does not."
He added that "under no circumstances" should people take a fawn into their home, stating that they are wild animals and their inherent instinct is to flee from humans.
The experienced animal welfare manager explained that it isn't just the fawn who suffers as a mother returning to find her young missing can also suffer severe stress.
He offered advice on what to do if you come across a fawn: “Please stay well back and do not alert it to your presence. Monitor the fawn over several hours.
"Please make sure dogs are kept on a lead around any wild animals.
“If in doubt of what to do when you come across a fawn, stay well back and call our helpline for advice.
"If there are still no signs of the fawn needing help when you check back, please leave it alone.
"People should only intervene if the fawn is injured or the mother is deceased nearby."
Urging the public o be more #WildlifeWise, he added: "Please help us to keep wild families together and only phone when it's needed.”
To report an injured or distressed animal, contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999. Visit www.scottishspca.org/wildlifewise for more information on the #WildlifeWise campaign.
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