A family from Sooke got a chance to witness a once in a lifetime moment after a deer gave birth to two fawns in their backyard.
Cynthia Norman McDonald told NowMedia that on May 26, 2021, her family watched the new mom and her babies from a distance for four to five hours.
However, they became a little more involved than anticipated after the first-born fawn fell to the lower part of the yard from a rocky cliff in the back of the property.
McDonald said that they were able to get the fawn into a backpack, all while wearing gloves to keep their scent off the animal. Then, her husband climbed up the rocks, gently placed it a few feet from the mother and waited from a distance for them to reunite.
McDonald adds that they were also ready to call the conservation service, but luckily the mother carried on loving the two fawns.
“It was absolutely wonderful to experience the miracle of life of two baby fawns and to be there to rescue her first born and bring it back to its mama successfully,” she said.
The BC SPCA recommends monitoring a fawn from a distance for 24 hours if you think it might be abandoned. It is not uncommon for the mother to leave their young for periods of time to go forage.
If you do come across a fawn that is in an unsafe location, “move it gently to a safe spot very close by so it won’t get hurt.”
If you are experiencing conflict with deer, or believe you have found an abandoned fawn, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
