Deer are about as common a sight while driving as other vehicles or even the road itself. But this weekend, it still came as a surprise to see so many of them lying dead on the side of the road. Circling back to my original statement, it's also not unusual to see them as roadkill.

Leave Baby Deer Alone

I couldn't help but wonder, every time I saw one, if I was seeing a mother. Naturally, that led to thinking about her offspring. They rarely travel alone, so either the fawn was somewhere nearby or wandered off. While it might be tempting for some to see if they could locate the youngster under those circumstances, it's not advisable in most, if not all, others.

More to the point, a solo fawn is not an invitation to make that fawn a pet. It's a practice frowned upon by experts and, in particular, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

What It Means When You See a Fawn By Itself

Among the gentlest of creatures, fawns are commonly left alone for long periods during the day. The mother could be out finding food, but mainly, it's to protect their young from predators.

Read More: Is it Illegal to Abandon Unwanted Pets in Kentucky?

The KDFWR informs us that this is a more frequent occurrence this time of year, as fawns are usually born in June and then left alone. This is done so that the doe can draw attention away from its newborn, which, conveniently, gives off no scent. If you do see one resting in high grass, don't approach; its mother will return to nourish it and then depart once again.

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And then there's this, in case every other reason doesn't work. You could be issued a citation for removing young wildlife from the wild; 301 KAR 2:081 prohibits the practice.

You have plenty of options for pets; don't make a baby deer one of them.

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Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS

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