With fawning season well underway in the South Cariboo, the 100 Mile House Conservation Officer Service is reminding the public to avoid does and their newborn fawns.
Conservation officer Joel Kline said that fawns are typically born in late May and throughout June. During this time, he said fawns' mothers can be especially protective of their young, creating a potential risk for the public.
"At this time of year, deer and ungulates are often with their young and are more likely to try and protect their young from perceived threats, which can include people and pets," Kline said.
Kline noted that if a doe feels threatened by a human or a pet, they have been known to charge and trample them to protect their fawns. This has happened several times in the past around this time of year.
To avoid potential conflicts with deer, Kline advises the community to take precautions when out and about. This includes being aware of your surroundings, leashing or monitoring your pets when taking them for walks and giving deer their space if you do encounter them.
If you regularly walk in an area you know is frequented by deer, Kline said, you can avoid potential conflicts by simply picking a new route for the next few weeks. The COS also advises that the public should not approach or touch a fawn for any reason. Not only could this trigger an attack from its mother, but it will also cause stress for the young animal.
"The COS would like to remind the public that the overly protective nature of doe deer at this time of year is temporary and will subside as fawns get older," Kline said.
According to Wild Safe BC, deer are the species most reported to the COS after black bears, averaging 4,500 reports per year. Urban deer conflicts are on the rise throughout B.C. and include instances of MVIs where motorists hit deer and aggressive deer charging pedestrians.
Wild Safe BC recommends never feeding a deer intentionally, reducing vegetation they could sleep in near your home and ensuring other potential food sources, like bird feeders or fruit trees, are maintained and kept out of their reach. Proper fencing is an important way to prevent deer from feeding on gardens.
Anyone who has a conflict with a deer or witnesses one, or any other human-wildlife conflict, is asked to contact the COS by calling the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
