Fawn Reunited with Mother Deer

This mule deer baby had been born two days earlier. She was separated from her mother when a dog chased them. The mother evidently fought with the dog, as the mother was later found to be injured by bites. Just following the dog attack, there was a torrential hail storm. We think the hail storm made it even more difficult for the two to find each other. The fawn was left without food. We watched the situation, and finally decided to bring the baby to the mother. This is something which is cautioned against. Picking up a newborn fawn can be "a death sentence" for the fawn because the mother may reject it due to residual human scent. In this case, the heard, although wild, is familiar with us. Most of them enjoy head scratches, and are familiar with our scent. After a long wait to see if mother and child would be reunited, we decided the benefit of moving the fawn was greater than the risk. Mother was relieved to see her baby again, and did not reject her.