How Baby Deer Stay Safe in the Wild: The Art of Hiding and Letting Go

Deer are known for their ingenious methods of keeping their young alive in the wild. While some large land mammals, such as bison and bighorn sheep, are “stalkers” and immediately stand up and follow their mother everywhere, baby deer have a more relaxed introduction to life. They spend most of their time curled up motionless while their mother forages for food.

Mother deer have found an ingenious way to keep their young safe in hard-to-find places. Baby deer are experts at hiding, with spots on their backs that help them camouflage when they are young. They only get up to drink their mother’s milk before she returns to the pasture to feed.

It is tempting to “rescue” a baby deer found lying alone in the forest, but it is important to avoid doing so. Mother deer remember where they hide their babies, and if they’re taken away by humans, she may not be able to find them again. Removing fawns can greatly reduce their chances of survival, and deer also struggle to live in captivity. It’s best to leave baby deer alone in the wild as the mother is usually nearby and will return when humans are not present. However, there may be exceptions such as finding a baby deer next to its dead or injured mother or if the baby is crying out in pain, contacting the local wildlife agency for assistance should be advised.