Foster Fawns

[stace1319]

My brother stopped by the other day because he found two fawns by the side of the road and the mother had been hit by a car and killed. I gave him a nipple and some colostrum formula laft over from the last fawn I had (which died due to internal injuries/ dog attack) anyways, he decided that he didn't want to burden of being a foster mother so they were brought to me as usual. Right now they are in a temperary bed in the house. tommarrow i'm going to set up a place for them to stay in the building untill I can find a wildlife rehab place for them to stay. I contacted the local DNR last time and they told me there is nowhere in this area that can take them so they were really no help at all. I know of one place that used to take them in when I was little so I'm going to give them a call. These babies are only a few days old. The dogs, by way, are completely amazed by them. Harley hovers over them like a first time mother and is completely obsessed. He follows them every where, lays with them, baths them, and wants to play with them.. but I'm so mean (I won't let him) they are so tiny and fragile. Earlier I was looking at youtube videos of fawns and one the video there was a fawn crying. Harley heard it and immediately jumped up and ran to the tub they are sleeping in to check on them lol. Every hour or so he goes over there to stick his head in and make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be. He is such a good little helper. Remmy is still a little too excited to be unsupervised around them. I'm afraid he will try to jump on them. I think it is funny how they chase the deer in the wild are so nuturing towards these babies. They are so excited to have them here, lol. Remmy is like a kid in a candy store when they are around. Ok, I'm going to shut up and show you some pics now! lol!

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0614.jpg
Harley welcoming the babies

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0628.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0633.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0642.jpg

more....

[stace1319]

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0649.jpg
Somebody got tired

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0650.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0652.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0657.jpg

that's all!

[stace1319]

one more, lol

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0654.jpg
"you taste like deer"

[Karen]

Wow, how fun! They are beautiful, does one have one blue eye?

[stace1319]

Wow, how fun! They are beautiful, does one have one blue eye?

they both have blue eyes. I think like most babies, they were born that way but they will probably turn brown as they grow and their spots fade. They absolutely adore Harley, lol. He just got them up for a potty break and dinner time. I think he would hold the bottle for them if he could. the whole time they were eating he was cleaning their faces.

[stace1319]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcG2qqLXBjE
a video from today... I already know my yard looks great... be jealous, lol (i've been too buisy to cut it)

[dab_20]

They are *soooooo* cute!!!! Awww loved the video they look so tiny compared to your finger! Good for you for taking them in, hope you can find a home for them.

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh my gosh! Adorable!:love:

[Husky_mom]

hey.. I noticed too the blue eyes!..;).. how incredibly cute... but I didn´t realize the blue last longer.. well.. then again they are a few days old only.. awww.. sorry about momma deer.. these cuties sure made it now... please keep us posted on them.... awww again..

[MoonandBean]

Awesome!!!! Thanks so much for helping these babies!!!! :love: :love: :love:

[stace1319]

Some pics I took today while they were outside for a potty break. I went to my feed store today and got goats milk replacement. I also had to get another nipple because 1 nipple between two hungry fawn just wasnt working out, lol. They are both doing great.

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0667.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0674.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr159/stace1319/IMG_0675.jpg

[lvpets2002]

:love: AAwweee I am melting now.. They are both so precious.. thanks for taking care of them.. great pics thanks

[snakemama]

Oh my goodness, how darling!! Thank you (and Harley!!) for taking such good care of these little orphans.

[Husky_mom]

just was able to watch the vid now... awwwWWWWWW!!!!!.. so cute!!!

[Marigold2]

They are just too cute for words, you are doing a great deed indeed.
Please give them a kiss for me.

[krazyaboutkatz]

They're adorable.:) I hope that they'll continue to thrive in your care.:)

[stace1319]

They're adorable.:) I hope that they'll continue to thrive in your care.:)

oh, they are definately thriving! lol! they are eating like little pigs and already starting to grow since the day they arrived. They are even starting to get little belly's on them :)

[pomtzu]

Here in Delaware it's illegal to keep any animals that would normally be in the wild. We're supposed to call the Wildlife Preserve, and they will pick them up. Believe it or not - it applies to rabbits too.

I guess you know that I did not make any calls to them, and I successfully raised some wild bunnies.

Another note - sad tho..On my way in to town this a.m. there was a baby red fox dead on the shoulder of the road. Poor little guy.....:(

These little guys are adorable. Best of luck raising then!

[Marigold2]

What will you do when they get bigger? Is there a place you can take them to be released or do you have enough land yourself?

[stace1319]

well, we planned on realeasing them at the farm, but now I think we are going to take them to my friends house. She has alot of land and lives way back in a holler. She LOVES deer and has many that come right up to her house that she feeds. Plus there is a big pond near her house. I'm sure they will be happy there when they are old enough to fend for theirselves

[Bonny]

Are those fawns ever cute :) How often do you feed them & how much do they drink at a time? Are they white tails & what sex are they? Lots of questions but I am curious to know. We sometimes have to bottle feed calfs on our farm, twice a day & about a quart per feeding of milk replacer.

[ramanth]

Oh so adorable!!! I love their spindly wee legs in that video. :D :love: :love: :love:

Looking forward to more pictures!!

[Fett]

Wow! That is so cool. I like the pic of the one dog staring at them while they're in their tub.

[stace1319]

Are those fawns ever cute :) How often do you feed them & how much do they drink at a time? Are they white tails & what sex are they? Lots of questions but I am curious to know. We sometimes have to bottle feed calfs on our farm, twice a day & about a quart per feeding of milk replacer.

I'm sorry, I havn't been on here in a few days. They are around 2 1/2 weeks old now so I'm feeding them every 5-6 hours. They usually drink almost in entire 8 oz bottle with each feeding. They are white tails and one is a buck and the other is a doe. The doe is a little larger and has white socks. She also has a darker face and darker spots on her head. The male is a little smaller and has a lighter face and lighter spots. He also just has stripes on his feet instead of socks. If you look at both of them together you can tell a differace. They have differant attitudes to. The doe is more interested in people and wants to graze in the yard alll the time, and the male is a little more shy and jumpy, but all he wants to do is run and play outside. He also eats more then his sister.

[stace1319]

Wow! That is so cool. I like the pic of the one dog staring at them while they're in their tub.

haha, thats harley, for the first week he thought it was his sole duty on this earth to hover over them constanty.. now, not so much. I guess he got bored and figured he would let me take over the foster mommy role, lol:D

[ramanth]

How do you keep them from running off? Or is it easy to catch up with them if they did spook?

[stace1319]

How do you keep them from running off? Or is it easy to catch up with them if they did spook?

they never go far, if they do get away from me and go into the woods, after they realize I left them there they come back into the yard to find me or Dave. They are also really attached to the dogs so they stick close to the yard. Plus I put the electric fence up. They only went though it once yesterday and today they didn't even go near it. I think they are starting to learn that its not fun to touch. If they want to, they can just leap straight through it without even touching it though, so really it isn't that effective. It is more for the dogs. I can usually catch up to them if they do run though, but it is starting to get harder, lol. They think of it more as a game to run when I get close when I try to herd them in. Especially the buck. I have to chase him around all them time. After a few minutes he gives in and runs in the house.:)

[Puckstop31]

Good stuff.... Sounds like momma mated with 2 different bucks.

Simply my opinion.... But I think the best chance for them to thrive is to NOT feed them after they are weaned. I know people around here who feed wild deer. Those deer more often than not end up in the back of the truck on opening day.

Thanks for doing this! It has to be a lot of work.

[stace1319]

Good stuff.... Sounds like momma mated with 2 different bucks.

Simply my opinion.... But I think the best chance for them to thrive is to NOT feed them after they are weaned. I know people around here who feed wild deer. Those deer more often than not end up in the back of the truck on opening day.

Thanks for doing this! It has to be a lot of work.

it's like having two newborns that can get into everything. Round the clock feedings every four hours isn't the way I like to spend my nights, but... it has to be done. kissing there soft little heads makes it all worth while.

[Desert Arabian]

Here in Delaware it's illegal to keep any animals that would normally be in the wild. We're supposed to call the Wildlife Preserve, and they will pick them up. Believe it or not - it applies to rabbits too.

It is also illegal in West Virgina to rehabilitate wild animals without having a permit. Same goes for Wisconsin, where I am. Fairly hefty fine and jail time if found guilty. http://www.wvdnr.gov/2007news/07news069.shtm

Luckily, there is a rehabilitiation center not too far from my house - I make numerous stops there with critters. Most recently, an injured hen mallard - she had the majority of her scalp missing. I'd post a pic, but it is too graphic. How she was still alive I will never understand. I have a feeling they may have put her to sleep ... at least she is out of misery. :(

The pictures of the faws are adorable! Makes me wish they'd stay that small!!

[Marigold2]

Sounds like they are keeping you very busy. It is nice to hear how well they are doing.

[cassiesmom]

How sweet they are! I love the photo of them looking at your dog!



Two nights in a row I've seen a doe standing by the side of the road by my building (one lane in each direction and the speed limit is 40). They blend in so well with the trees, and the street lights are far apart. I like to see them, but they move so fast and I am always afraid I won't see them in time while I'm driving. I also saw one in the same spot coming home from church on Sunday. I saw her way in advance, broad daylight, so I was able to slow down in case she decided to walk into the street. She didn't, thank goodness.