Driver Slams Brakes Seeing Fawn Collapsed In Road As Cameras Capture Nail-Biting Rescue While Mom Watches From Woods

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

Driver Slams Brakes Seeing Fawn Collapsed In Road As Cameras Capture Nail-Biting Rescue While Mom Watches From Woods

world by Tatiana Bosc 8/6/2018

When Steve Knopp and his friends were through nearby woods, a sight in the middle of the road instantly caught their eye. Lying in the middle of the street was a baby fawn, and the group quickly knew that the animal would be in danger if they didn't act fast.

The baby appeared to be "hiding," its limbs collapsed around its body in an alarming fashion. Something was wrong...

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They quickly stopped the car and cautiously approached the needy deer. As they scanned the nearby woods, they spotted the fawn's mother peering at them from afar.

When Steve took a closer look at the baby, he realized that it was still breathing and appeared healthy - and what he did next was nothing short of extraordinary. Now people from all corners of the globe are hailing Steve as a wildlife hero!

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Taking a risk, he decided that if the animal was going to have any chance of survival he would need to intervene fast. As cameras rolled, he quietly and carefully approached the helpless creature, slowly bending down to see how it would react to his presence.

What he did next left the entire group in awe, as he gently scooped up the baby fawn and brought it to the nearby woods to be near mom. 

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While this man clearly saved the fawn's life, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says that you should generally leave newborns alone.

"The advice to anyone encountering a fawn lying quietly alone in the woods is to leave it alone. Mother will be nearby and will be taking care of it once you move away.

If you have handled the fawn, rub an old towel in the grass and wipe the fawn to remove human scent. Using gloves, return the fawn to where it was found. Fawns can often be returned to their mothers if taken back to where they were found within eight hours.

If a fawn appears cold, weak, thin, or injured, and its mother does not return in approximately eight hours, it may be orphaned. In such a case, you can call a local rehabilitator (look under 'Animal' or 'Wildlife' in your phone directory)."

Even though some newborn fawns may look abandoned, Momma may be nearby and within earshot. Handling a fawn in a non-emergency situation (unlike this one) could deter the mother from caring for her baby!

Thankfully Steve was in the right place at the right time!