Door County may be known for its limestone bluffs, ice cream shoppes, and beautiful sunsets, but I think the most magical thing you can experience in the county is the arrival of White-tailed fawns in late May and early June. Glimpsing a white-tailed fawn on one of the first days of summer is truly magical. 

 This year, I’ve been lucky enough to see several white-tailed fawns. The earliest encounter I had was during the first week of June, just around the time of year when White-tailed does are giving birth to fawns. I was driving home from dinner when I saw a brand new fawn following her mother across a county road. At a few days old, the fawn’s legs seemed too long and lanky for its small body. It slowly and cautiously made its way across the road. Once on the safety of the meadow, the fawn went to nurse, unaware of my car as a threat, while the mother doe watched carefully to make sure I didn’t get any closer. The fawn laid down shortly after I stopped, listening to its mother’s cues to stay safe.

While I was lucky enough to encounter a fawn with its mother that night in early June, most of a young fawn’s life is spent laying down in solitude. Ridges staff have seen photos and videos throughout the years of fawn “rescues” throughout Door County- with some even in the Sanctuary itself. Unfortunately, these good intentions can be harmful to white-tailed deer fawn.  

White-tailed deer fawns are born without a scent- something that saves them from predation in their earliest days when they are not yet strong enough to run away from danger. Fawns will stay bedded down for the first week of their life. A mother doe will return to its baby to nurse about 4-5 times a day, calling to the fawn in a low murmur. The fawn may return its mother’s calls with high pitched bleats.  

A fawn knows not to get up from its bed until its mother calls. Contrary to many other mammals, fawns’ best weapons against predation are their instincts- not the protection of their mothers. If the fawn suspects a predator is nearby, it will drop to the ground, flatten its head and ears, and most impressively, suspend its breathing. Almost all living things give off a scent in the exhaling of breath. By suspending breathing, a fawn is less likely to be found by a predator. If a mother doe suspects a predator is near her baby, she won’t go near it. A mother does approach would only signal to a predator where to go. If a doe has multiple fawns, she’ll leave them a few hundred yards apart from each other. This ensures the safety of one fawn if the other is not so lucky.  

After about two weeks, fawns will begin to follow their mother around for short periods of time, learning to browse plants like their mother does. They’ll also begin to wander around near the place where their mother leaves them to bed down. 

At this point in the summer, white-tailed fawns are much more active. They are growing big and strong, following mom while she forages and exploring the world around them. Little fawns are born around 6-8 pounds and must gain 60-70 pounds before their first winter! They’ll slowly lose their white spots during their first molt around 3-4 months old, growing their winter coat. Fawns will continue to follow their mother for about a year, when mom will leave the herd to have new babies in the spring.  

When people see a fawn bedded down alone or wandering without mom, and they don’t know any better, they think the fawn is in danger or needs help. In fact, the fawn is doing exactly as it’s supposed to! If a fawn is bedded down or suspects danger, it will likely stay very still. Its white spots and brown fur provide excellent camouflage among wildflower covered meadows and forest floors. While you may not see the mother doe, she is nearby, waiting until it’s safe to check on her baby. This is why it’s very important to give white-tailed fawns plenty of space. Do not approach fawns. If you suspect something is wrong, you can call The Ridges, nearby wildlife rehabilitation centers, or your local Game Warden or Wildlife Officer. 

Remember, like any wild animal, the less interactions fawns have with humans, the better their chances of survival. We can enjoy them from afar and consider ourselves lucky when we come upon them! 

Curious about white-tailed deer populations in Wisconsin? Read our blog on white-tailed deer populations, written in 2022, here.