All of us have had the experience of seeing a deer in our yards when we have walked out of the house or pulled into the driveway. A deer will then typically do one of two things. It may raise its white, tail flag and run away; or, it may watch us long enough to conclude that we are not a threat and go back to feeding on our shrubs, flowers, grass or garden. Unless the deer is feeding in our vegetable garden or in flowerbeds that we have worked hard to create, we don’t have reason for concern.
An exception to typical, ‘normal’ deer behavior occurs when a doe deer has one (or more) newborn fawns. If she thinks her young is/are in danger, she may become aggressive toward people or pets in an effort to protect her offspring.
Newborn fawns are not capable of running or defending themselves. The doe stashes them in some nearby vegetation while she is out feeding, often for several hours at a time. She returns to nurse the fawn but spends little time by the side of the fawn as a survival strategy. She doesn’t want to attract the attention of predators by being with the fawn. She remains nearby, aware and attentive to potential dangers to her fawn.
Judging from the phone calls received last week at the Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) regional office, there were a lot of fawns recently born in residential areas of the Panhandle. Whitetails generally give birth in early to mid-June, so these newborns are right on schedule.
One caller reported that a doe comes after him any time he goes into his yard. The doe has even followed his dogs onto his deck. Another caller reported that she must park as close to the door as she can, and watch for an aggressive doe every time she goes to or from her car.
Both instances are in Dalton Gardens where deer numbers have grown substantially higher than outside of residential areas. Dalton deer numbers are high because there are few predators, people feed them, and ornamental shrubs planted in yards there are tasty to deer throughout all seasons.
A doe will no longer be aggressive toward people once her fawn is able to run to escape danger,. This should happen by the time the fawn is two to three weeks old. In the interim, to reduce the chances of unpleasant encounters, landowners are encouraged to consider a few measures.
- Most of all, do not feed deer as this can cause them to lose their natural fear of people.
- Observe deer from a distance, and if possible watch their movements to learn where the fawn is hidden. Then, do not go near the spot where the fawn is hiding.
- Keep your pets contained, as deer with fawns will attack dogs if they think the dog presents a threat to their fawn. Deer with fawns are rarely aggressive toward a person unless a dog is present.
- If you find a fawn alone, do not disturb it, and leave the area. A doe is nearby, anxious about your presence, and she could become aggressive toward you.
In a couple of weeks, deer should return to ‘normal’ behavior and you will have the joy of seeing fawns following their mothers around the neighborhood…hopefully not into your garden.