Injured or orphaned deer
 Black-tailed deer, a subspecies of the mule deer, are common throughout the northern and central California coastal ranges. While they prefer open chaparral, they will adjust to almost any open space they can find. Deer have learned to adapt to small patches of open space in urban areas and are common in many of our neighborhoods.
Black-tailed deer are most active early in the morning, at dusk and on moonlit nights. They form small family groups. The doe has one or two fawns, born in late spring or early summer. Fawns begin foraging for their own food when they are a week old, but will nurse heavily for at least two months. The fawns have spots on their coats until they are about three and a half months old. They will live most of their lives in the area where born, rarely traveling any great distance.
Deer eat a variety of plants and seem particularly attracted to many of the trees, bushes and perennials commonly used in suburban landscaping.
The doe usually has one or two fawns, born in spring or early summer. The museum can care for spotted fawns, or those just past the spotted stage. The museum cannot care for adult deer; we do not have adequate facilities and adult deer often die or harm themselves in captivity because of stress. |
Fawn "abandoned"
Does will hide their babies and go off to feed, often for the entire day. If you find a fawn, leave the area and keep dogs and people away from it. The mother will not return if she senses you are too close. Do not pick up the fawn or try to give it food. If a fawn has been picked up, return it to the exact location where found or within visual distance, stay back several hundred feet and observe to see if the mother returns. This can take many hours. If the fawn appears injured, bring it to the museum or call animal services (In Contra Costa County call 925-335-8300). Do not give it food or water. Handle fawns with care. They often have poison oak and ticks in their fur. |
Deer from another area
Lindsay Wildlife Museum cannot accept fawns from north of the Sacramento River (Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento Counties). If you have an injured or orphaned deer from this area, contact one of these centers.
Wildlife Fawn Rescue
Clearlake Wildlife Rescue-707-994-4044 |
Caught inside fence
While deer can jump fences easily, you can open a gate to let it out. Leave the area so you don't frighten the deer. |
Run by dogs
Remove all dogs from the area and leave the deer alone for up to eight hours to see if it revives. Move it out of direct sun so it doesn't overheat. If the animal does not revive, bring to Lindsay Wildlife Museum if it is a fawn or call animal control if it is an adult. |
Broken leg or injured
Adult deer cannot be treated-they cannot endure treatment and captivity. Many deer do just fine with leg injuries that heal; even 3-legged deer can survive. Our best advice is to leave them alone, keeping dogs and people away from them. If the deer is down and can't get up or bone is protruding through the skin, call animal control. |
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