Letter to the Editor: Slow down for fawns this spring

Dear Editor:

It is that time of year again – fawns are literally coming out of the woodwork. They’re often seen crossing roads, seemingly standing too close to traffic, somewhat unstable on their feet, viewing the world through brand new eyes.

Once within human proximity, our conduct during that contact can make the difference between ensuring that they’re afforded an opportunity to grow up or perish at our hands/wheels. There are many actions we can undertake to help them survive, the most important of which is: inaction.

When finding a fawn by itself, alone, unless a dead doe is within clear view, we must fight the urge to intervene. Fawns are frequently left on their own for hours at a time while their mothers look for food and try to protect them from predators by putting distance between them, cleverly steering unwanted attention to herself.

Save for an obvious injury, fawns should not be approached or interacted with. Concern is simply misdirected unless a fawn is observed lying alone in the same place or wandering by itself for over 24 hours.

The second, most important factor improving the survival odds of newborn fawns is throttling back. Removing your foot from the gas pedal and coasting more than actively accelerating, especially through blind turns, gives animals more time to get out of the way after hearing the sound of an approaching car. Annually, dozens of local vehicular collisions with wildlife can be averted by just driving a little bit slower, more cautiously, and not driving at night whenever it can be avoided.

When you witness the tragic event of a deer getting hit/killed by a car this time of year or you hit/kill a deer and its fawn is too young to fend for itself, it is important to get it the help it needs by calling (951) 852-0513 in Mendocino County or Sonoma Fawn Rescue (707) 931-4550 in Sonoma County.  Do not approach the fawn unless you’re instructed to do so.