Poplar Bluff Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

05/31/2026

Fawn season has arrived! White-tailed deer fawns are typically born between April and July, with the majority being born in June. First-time mothers usually give birth to one fawn, while twins or triplets are common in subsequent years.

To protect their young, mother deer leave their fawns hidden while they go off to feed. This behavior is not abandonment; instead, it helps reduce the risk of attracting predators. Fawns are often concealed in tall grass or shrubs but can also be found in open areas, including backyards.

As they grow, fawns may venture short distances from their hiding places, but they still rely heavily on their mothers. Mothers generally return at dawn and dusk to feed or move their young.

Well-meaning humans often mistakenly assume that a lone fawn is an orphan, leading to many cases of fawn "kidnapping" each year. In reality, most fawns are not orphaned—they are simply waiting patiently for their mother to return.

If you find a fawn, do you see any of the following?

* It is bleeding, has an open wound, or has a broken bone.
* It’s covered in fly eggs (look like small grains of rice).
* It’s cold or wet.
* It has diarrhea
* It’s crying nonstop for over 48 + hours
* It's lying on its side with legs away from its body.
* If you have seen NONE of the above scenarios, please leave the fawn alone.

Is the fawn in a dangerous location, such as near a busy road or in a backyard with dogs?

If the answer is YES, you can move the fawn a short distance to a safer area. When relocating a fawn, it’s common for it to try to follow you. To prevent this, position the fawn so it is facing away from the direction you plan to leave, so it cannot see you. Firmly tap the fawn twice on its head; this mimics the way a mother deer communicates to her fawn to stay put until she returns.

After tapping, quickly leave the area without lingering. The fawn may stand up and take a few steps to follow you, but keep walking, and it should lie back down. If possible, monitor the situation from a distance using binoculars.

Please refrain from interfering with the fawn until you have spoken with a wildlife center for guidance, as your good intentions may unintentionally harm or cause the death of the fawn.

05/18/2026

Between now and July, you'll probably find a baby animal somewhere on your property. On the lawn, in the garage, under a bush. It will look helpless. It will look abandoned.

Most of the time, it isn't. Here's what to do for each one 🌿

🐦 Baby bird — feathered, hopping, alert:

- That's a fledgling. It left the nest on purpose. The parents are nearby, feeding it on the ground. Leave it where it is. If a cat or dog is nearby, move it to the nearest shrub — that's all it needs

🐦 Baby bird — naked, eyes closed:

- That's a nestling. It fell too early. If you can find the nest, put it back. The parents won't reject it — most birds have a poor sense of smell. Human scent on a baby bird is not a problem

🐇 Baby rabbit — fur-lined nest in the lawn:

- The mother visits only at dawn and dusk to avoid drawing predators. Her absence is the protection, not a sign of abandonment. Re-cover the nest gently and mow around it. The kits leave on their own within a few weeks

🐿️ Baby squirrel — on the ground:

- Place it near the base of the nearest tree. The mother usually retrieves it within a few hours. If it's cold, keep it warm in a soft cloth near the tree. If she hasn't come back by evening, contact a wildlife rehabilitator

🦌 Fawn — lying alone in grass:

- The mother left it there deliberately. Fawns are nearly scentless and lie motionless — that's their defense. She returns to nurse a few times a day. Don't touch it, don't move it. If it's still there after 24 hours with no sign of the mother, then call a rehabilitator

🐢 Baby turtle — crossing a road:

- Carry it to the side it was heading toward. Don't relocate it to a "better" spot — she knows where she's going. Never carry a turtle by the tail

For anything else — injured, visibly sick, or a species you can't identify — contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator through your state wildlife agency.

The most helpful thing you can do for most baby animals this season is leave them where they are 🌿

05/17/2026

05/14/2026

Made me tear up a little. Wonderful.

05/14/2026

Sad to say I received a litter of new born skunks yesterday morning, the babies were well cared for by their mother. After a few questions I find out they killed the mother because she on their property! The old woman claimed they would hurt her grandchildren and people are more important to god. So they find the babies and want to save them. Skunks are generally nocturnal, they give several bluff warnings as they don't want anything to do with you either. Why are your small grandkids out at night? Then she thought she should be paid for bringing them to me, while I absorb the cost and time of raising them. Last I heard god loved all his creatures the same. It was a long sad day knowing the ignorance that people still have in this day and age. Relocation was never a though for her.😞

05/14/2026

Transport is on it's way to help the injured opossum. Thank you to everyone. HELP!! Needing transportation from neelyville to poplar bluff for an injured opossum. Please call 573.707.0918