Wildlife Rescue Center

If you care, leave her there!🦌

It's that time of year again, and we're starting to receive calls from concerned members of the public about finding newborn fawns in backyards, parks, and near businesses. It's only natural to feel worried, but a fawn found alone is not necessarily abandoned.

Mother deer (doe) leave their babies alone for hours while they forage for food. This behavior is perfectly normal and helps protect the fawn from predators. A fawn’s spotted coat provides excellent camouflage, and by staying still and quiet, the fawn reduces its chances of being detected.

If you're concerned about a fawn's health, contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Signs of a problem include obvious injuries, constant crying, stumbling or falling, curled ear tips, and flies around the head or rear. If you see these signs, find a local wildlife rehabilitator at ahnow.org.

Last week, a volunteer from St. Louis Audubon Society encountered a bird in distress while surveying the rookery at O'Fallon Park. An adult snowy egret was entangled in fishing line stuck to a tree and was unable to free itself.

The kind human removed the line from the endangered bird and brought it to the Wildlife Rescue Center for evaluation. This is not the first injured bird we have received from this area, but thankfully, this lucky egret escaped without significant damage.

After a few days of pain medication, nutritious meals, and a little rest, he was ready to return to the wild. As soon as the crate opened, he flew off without a backward glance. Go egret, go!🙌

PS Please remember to pack up all fishing gear and properly dispose of fishing line. A single piece left behind can become a deadly trap for wildlife.