A fawn is a deer that is under one year old. After more than one year old, the fawn becomes a young deer. Watching fawns up close isn't a great idea, but there are ways to tell a fawn's age from a distance. Start by estimating the weight of the fawn. Unsteady legs are an indicator of a fawn, so pay attention to how it walks. Pay attention to the pattern on the fawn's hair. If it is not patterned, the deer is already an adult. If you find an injured or neglected fawn, ask a local animal rescue for help.
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Method 1 of 3: Estimating the Age of a Deer Based on Physical Traits
Step 1. Notice the deer's wobbly legs
Even though a newborn fawn can stand up straight away, its legs are still wobbly and it must sit often to rest. The fawn's legs will continue to wobble until he is 3-4 weeks old. After 3-4 weeks, the fawn's legs are stronger so it won't fall when running.
Step 2. Notice the pattern on the deer's hair
Newborn fawns have reddish-brown hair. The fawn has two rows of white dots on each side of its back. As the fawn grows up, these spots will fade. As adults, the fawn's reddish-brown hair will thicken and turn gray.
- In addition to having white hair on the abdomen, fawns also have various white patterns all over their bodies.
- White spots on fawns will disappear after he is 3-4 months old, usually in October.
Step 3. Estimate the weight of the deer
When new born, fawns weigh under 4.5 kg. After birth, the weight of the fawn will continue to increase steadily. After 6 months of age, fawns weigh 35-40 kg. After 1 year of age, most fawns weigh over 40 kg. By observing the body shape and size of the fawn, you can estimate its age.
The birth weight of a fawn will double after 2 weeks of age
Step 4. Watch the antlers start to grow on the fawn
The male deer will start growing antlers after 4 months of age. When you notice or feel the head of a stag fawn, there are two hard round bumps on its head. The lump will be more obvious when the fawn is 7 months old.
The fawn needs a lot of energy to grow its antlers. Therefore, a deer that is stressed or lacks nutrition finds it difficult to grow antlers until he is old enough
Step 5. Observe the scabs on the fawn's navel
If you can touch the fawn up close, feel its belly. If the fawn is under a week old, you can feel a scab on its belly button. After a week, this scab will dry and fall off on its own.
Step 6. Observe the deer's teeth
If you can open the fawn's mouth, its teeth are an indicator of the age of the fawn. The fawn has 4 teeth when it is born. After 2 months of age, the premolars and incisors begin to grow. When a deer is 1.5 years old, all of its milk teeth will be replaced with adult teeth.
Method 2 of 3: Estimating the Age of a Deer Based on Its Behavior
Step 1. Observe the deer hiding
Newborn fawns are generally able to stand up straight after 1.5 hours. However, the mother deer will generally always hide her cubs behind plants for 1 week. If you find a fawn covered in shrubs or leaves, it is being hidden by its mother. The mother deer will return at night.
- Deer that are old enough will be more daring to roam in open spaces without their mother. He will also join the herd of adult deer after he hides for 1 week.
- When the mother deer gives birth to twins, she will hide her cubs in different places. This is done so that the children are not eaten by predators.
Step 2. Watch for deer that freeze or run away
If you approach or scare a fawn that is under 1 week old, it will shut up and freeze. The fawn won't move when you approach or touch it (don't do this). On the other hand, fawns over 1 week old will run away when you approach them. The fawn will use the escape instinct it has.
Step 3. Wait for the mother deer to return
If the mother deer returns to care for her cubs at night, the fawns may be under 3 weeks old. The mother and the fawn will continue to meet in the same place until the fawn is ready to find its own food. Once the fawn is 3 weeks old, it will stop meeting its mother and look for food on its own.
- This is not a practical way of knowing the age of a fawn. This is because some fawns continue to be cared for by their mothers even though they have stopped suckling. This is one part of the process of approaching the parent with the fawn.
- The fawn eats leaves, tree bark, fruit, and mushrooms.
Step 4. Anticipate the birth of fawns in early spring or summer
Most deer mate in late autumn, from October to early December. Therefore, fawns are generally born in early spring or summer. Generally, you can't find baby deer in winter. You can also assume that the fawns found in the summer are quite young.
Fawns born in late summer or fall will find it difficult to survive the winter. However, fawns born in warmer climates where deer have a more flexible mating cycle, such as in the southern United States, can survive the winter
Method 3 of 3: Caring for Injured or Abandoned Folks
Step 1. Call a rescue animal
If you find a fawn that is injured and needs medical attention, contact your local animal rescue organization. You can also search the internet for animal rescue organizations. You can search the internet for animal rescues by entering the name of the city and “animal rescue” in a search engine. Most animal rescuers will respond quickly when contacted by telephone.
Step 2. Know the characteristics of neglected fawns
If there is a pile of dirt on its back, the fawn may be neglected and don't have a mother to clean it up. If the fawn is over 1 week old and doesn't run away when approached in the open, the fawn may be neglected. You can also touch the sides of the fawn's ears. If it feels smooth, the fawn is not thrown away by its mother. A dehydrated and neglected fawn's ears will feel rough to the touch.
Step 3. Give the fawn some help
Before animal rescue arrives, you must treat any injured or neglected fawn. Place the fawn in the box containing the towels. Use a low-temperature heater and place it at the back of the box. Give the fawn a 1:1 mixture of water and Gatorade or Pedialyte using a pacifier.
- If the fawn refuses to drink, don't force it.
- Don't give the fawn cow's milk. This can give the fawn a stomach ache.
Step 4. Make sure your body odor doesn't stick to the fawn
The mother deer will do her best to keep her young from odors. This is done so that the child is free from predators. When caring for fawns, you should wear gloves. You can also rub a towel over the ground and then wipe the fawn's back with the towel. This can get rid of your body odor that clings to the fawn's body.
