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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s vehicle tire at work.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n