It was an unusually busy 48 hours for Western Michigan University Public Safety officers earlier this month, and not just because of the usual campus activity.
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On June 10 and June 11, officers responded to two separate situations involving injured fawns in the Kalamazoo area. While the circumstances were different, both stories ended with the young deer getting the help they needed!
First Fawn Injured in Vehicle Collision Incident
The first situation went down when WMU officers on patrol noticed citizens trying to assist a fawn that had been hit by a car. The young deer appeared to have only minor injuries but was scared and unsure of where to go. Officers carefully moved it to a shaded, wooded area near where its mother had last been seen. They continued checking on it throughout the day and later confirmed a positive outcome, with the fawn and mom leaving the area together!
Second Fawn Found Near Asylum Lake Trail
The second call came just a day later near Asylum Lake. A local resident came across another fawn, this time with a broken leg, and contacted authorities for help. WMU Public Safety coordinated with local wildlife partners and a licensed rehabilitator, ensuring the animal was safely transferred for treatment and given a chance at recovery.
With recent storms and increased wildlife activity around campus and nearby trails, officials say encounters like this are becoming more common this time of year.
Michigan DNR Guidance on Fawn Encounters
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that seeing a fawn alone is not unusual. In most cases, the mother is nearby and will return, and you should leave the baby animal alone. However, if it is visibly injured or in immediate danger, contacting trained responders is the right move.
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Community Members Help Drive Successful Rescues
In both cases, officers say that quick thinking from community members helped ensure the best possible outcome for the animals involved…