A suspect was cited for illegally capturing and keeping a baby deer in a cage outside of their Sonoma County home, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association said in a news release on Wednesday. The suspect, who was not immediately identified, told authorities they found the fawn in the wild and had been keeping it on their property for more than three weeks.
According to the news release, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer Cameron Blechert visited the home after receiving a report that a group of people had captured the fawn. He allegedly found it in the yard, sitting in a dog crate.
Columbian black-tailed deer, a subspecies of mule deer, are abundant throughout Sonoma County and the rest of the Bay Area. Native to California, they can be found from the Berkeley Hills to Tilden Regional Park and Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area, but frequently wander into residential neighborhoods, too. They’re also becoming easier to spot: In April, CDFW officials issued a warning to “leave baby deer alone” as late spring and early fall are peak times for new fawns to be born…