Leave ‘abandoned’ baby deer alone. They’re OK, California wildlife officials say

by Pete Young, Bay City News April 13, 2026April 13, 2026

A young deer stands in a grassy field in an undated photo. Human interference can reduce a fawn’s chances of survival, as removed animals often cannot be returned to the wild and may be euthanized, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said on Friday, April 10, 2026. (California Department of Fish and Wildlife via Bay City News)

They may look abandoned or hungry. But leave the baby deer alone, state wildlife officials say.

Well-intentioned people can be tempted to “help” fawns in the late spring and early summer, the peak times for California’s deer to give birth, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday.

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