Royal Canadian Mounted Police are reminding the public to avoid approaching or handling young wildlife after a baby deer was recently found resting in a Sylvan Lake parking lot.
Detachment staff say the fawn was discovered sleeping under a vehicle tire while its mother was nearby, noting this is normal behaviour as deer often leave their young hidden while they forage and return later to feed them.
A similar situation was shared Saturday morning on the Living in Cochrane Facebook page by Liane Ellen, who described finding a fawn next to a coworker’s vehicle tire at work.
“Tonight at work a baby fawn was found sleeping directly next to a coworker’s vehicle tire. With gloved hands, the fawn was carefully moved to a safer location nearby, off the road. Otherwise we would not have touched it. It was reunited with its mother shortly thereafter.”
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RCMP say that while the outcome was positive, the public is generally advised not to touch or move young wildlife, as mothers are often close by and may become defensive.
Officers encourage residents to observe from a distance and monitor the situation. If a mother does not return within 24 hours, or if an animal appears injured, officials say to contact local Fish and Wildlife for guidance.
Authorities also remind the public not to take young wildlife home and instead contact professionals or local wildlife rehabilitation centres such as the Cochrane Ecological Institute.