If you come across a seemingly abandoned fawn this summer, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has a simple message: don’t pull a Home Alone rescue.

Using a playful nod to the classic movie, LDWF reminds residents that just like Kevin McCallister’s mom, a fawn’s mother is determined to come back for her baby.

While it may look like a young white-tailed deer has been left behind, wildlife experts say that’s actually part of nature’s plan.

During the first few weeks of life, fawns spend most of their time lying quietly in tall grass or brush, relying on their spotted coats and stillness to remain hidden from predators. Meanwhile, the mother stays away for much of the day, returning only a few times to nurse her fawn. By keeping her distance, she reduces the chance of leading predators to the hidden youngster.

Because of this natural behavior, officials say the worst thing a well-meaning person can do is assume the fawn has been abandoned.

If You Find a Fawn:

Leave it exactly where it is.

Quietly leave the area.

Do not attempt to rescue, move, or take the animal home.

LDWF also reminds the public that it is illegal in Louisiana to capture or possess a deer without proper authorization.
If a fawn appears to be injured or you genuinely believe it has been orphaned, wildlife officials ask that you do not contact a wildlife rehabilitator first. Instead, contact your local Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries office, where trained personnel can evaluate the situation and provide guidance.

Each spring and summer, wildlife officials receive numerous reports from concerned residents who mistakenly believe healthy fawns have been abandoned. In most cases, the mother is nearby and will return once people leave the area.

So, unlike Kevin McCallister, that little one isn’t home alone after all.

Sometimes the best way to help wildlife is simply to admire it from a distance and let nature take its course.

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