26-05-2025
Iowa DNR has some reminders as fawning season begins
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a few things they'd like Siouxlanders to keep in mind as deer fawning season gets underway.
From the last week of May through the first couple of weeks of June is the peak time of year for does to give birth. That means for the next several weeks, DNR officials expect to get plenty of calls from concerned Iowans who believe they've found an abandoned fawn.
However, chances are the fawn's mother is close by and watching. 'Fawns will be left alone while the doe returns only to nurse. This is normal deer behavior,' said Jim Coffey, a forest wildlife resource biologist with Iowa DNR in a press release.
He also added, don't be shocked if you find the fawn in what may seem like an odd place, such as your lawn or garden. 'The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe, and, on occasion, those places may leave us scratching our heads, wondering what the doe was thinking. But she chose that place because it made sense to her.'
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The Iowa DNR will not be rehabilitating or comingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease or other illnesses. So the best bet is simply to leave the fawn alone wherever you found it.
Also important to note, deer are especially active during fawning season, and that means an increase in deer crossing the road. Drivers should keep a sharp eye out to avoid the risk of a crash.
The DNR adds, if you do hit a deer in Iowa, you can get a salvage tag for the meat by calling your local conservation officer or law enforcement agency. The tag is free, but you must have one in order to get the meat legally processed. The deer must also be entirely removed from the roadway.
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