It’s Peak Fawn Season in Illinois—What Drivers Need to Know

Have you been noticing a lot of deer fawns while out driving lately? There's a good reason for that: June is peak fawn season in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Beware of Deer

I travel country roads almost daily where I live, and in the last week alone I've seen seven mother deer walking along the roads with their fawns, and it always makes me smile.

You know what doesn't make me smile? When I almost hit a deer with my car, or even worse, when I see a fawn lying alone in a field or on the side of the road.

Normally a sight like this would make any animal lover panic:

But then I am reminded of this post from Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Durand, Illinois:

Nine times out of ten the lone fawn you spotted isn't actually abandoned or in trouble, but there is one physical sign you should look for just in case.

How to Know if a Deer Fawn Is Abandoned

When watching a fawn all day and night to see if its mother returns isn't a possible option, try to get close enough to the fawn without terrifying it to look at its ears. If the ears are curled up at the ends it means the fawn is dehydrated and it is time to interfere.

Other signs to look for to determine if a fawn is in trouble include:

• Open wounds, bleeding, or broken limbs.
• If it is lying on its side and appears weak.
• If it is cold, wet, or covered in what looks like little grains of rice (fly eggs).
• If it is crying nonstop.

If none of the situations above apply to the fawn, then don't touch it and just leave it be! Mama is still taking care of it!