PEOPLE are being urged not to feed deer in order to avoid disturbing their young.
The plea comes from Staffordshire County Council as fawning season gets underway.
During this period, people may come across newborn or young deer lying quietly in undergrowth – but rangers say this behaviour is normal with mothers leaving them hidden while they go off to feed.
Anyone approaching the animals could create a scent which deters the mother from returning.
Cllr Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said:
“I completely understand that seeing a baby deer on its own can feel worrying but, in most cases, there is no need to intervene.
“Deer mothers are very careful and will leave their fawns hidden in long grass or undergrowth while they go off to feed.
“Please be assured that they’re not abandoned, they’re just being kept safe.
“If people stay away, keep dogs under control, and don’t touch or feed them, it gives the best chance for the mother to return and raise her young naturally.”
The county council said that rangers have reported a rise in incidents of deer being fed by hand or from vehicles.
But they say this could cause the animals to become “unnaturally dependent” on human food, leading to increased aggression.
