PITTSBORO — A Chatham County deputy helped rescue a newborn fawn recently after its mother was struck and killed by a vehicle on NC 87 near Walter Bright Road.
On June 1, a motorist witnessed the collision and turned around to check on the scene. Just off the roadside, they spotted a fawn, so young that its umbilical cord was still attached. The resident carried the animal to safety and called the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office for help.
Deputy Caitlin Cade responded and worked with the resident to safely contain the fawn before transporting it to Holly’s Nest Animal Rescue, a licensed facility equipped to care for orphaned or injured wildlife north of Sanford.
“This fawn had a slim chance of survival out there alone,” Cade said in a release. “Thankfully, the caller acted quickly.”
In North Carolina, white-tailed deer give birth in late spring and early summer. Newborn fawns typically weigh between four and eight pounds and can stand and nurse soon after birth. Their spotted coats and lack of scent help camouflage them from predators during their first few vulnerable weeks. Although mothers often leave their fawns alone while foraging, they remain close by and return regularly to nurse and clean them.
Fawns can typically outrun most predators within a few weeks, but this one was barely a day or two old. Without its mother’s protection, and so close to a busy highway, the fawn’s chance of survival would have been slim.
The CCSO said in a press release that it “reminds residents not to approach or move fawns unless they are clearly injured or in immediate danger. When in doubt, call for assistance. Trained professionals can help determine the best course of action and ensure animals get the care they need.”
To report wildlife concerns, contact the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office at 919-542-2911.